Horses to Watch: New faces include 17-length winner for Cox

Photo:

Kevin Kerstein / Churchill Downs / X

In this biweekly series, racing analyst J. Keeler Johnson shares promising horses from his handicapping watch list, reviewing runners who have recently caught his eye and previewing horses scheduled to run back in the near future.

Results

Thursday

Belmont at the Big A, race 1: I’m adding Stunner to my watch list based off her flashy victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. Coming off a runner-up finish in her debut at Saratoga against the exciting Senza Parole, Stunner improved nicely in her second start, setting quick fractions of 21.98 and 44.86 seconds before powering clear to win by 6 1/4 lengths in the snappy time of 1:16.15 seconds. This Florida-bred 2-year-old looks like a developing stakes filly for trainer Brad Cox.

Friday

Belmont at the Big A, race 6: Praetor is new to my watch list. He finished third in his Aug. 3 debut against future Hopeful (G1) runner-up Ferocious. That was a six-furlong sprint, and when Ferocious stretched out for a one-mile maiden special weight on Friday, he delivered a sharp victory. Even after setting honest fractions of 23.36, 47.05 and 1:11.46, the Chad Brown-trained son of Into Mischief was able to run his final quarter-mile in 24.68 seconds to score by a neck in 1:36.14 seconds. Praetor earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form and looks like a stakes-caliber 2-year-old.

Saturday

Belmont at the Big A, race 6: Racing against males over a good turf course in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), 7-year-old mare War Like Goddess put up a gallant fight. In her quest for a Joe Hirsch three-peat, War Like Goddess settled at the back of a five-horse field, began advancing with half a mile remaining, took the lead in midstretch and failed by only half a length to hold off the rail-rallying Far Bridge. According to the Equibase GPS chart, War Like Goddess ran 14 feet farther than Far Bridge, more than enough to cost her victory. She’s worth watching again.

In contrast, I’ll drop Silver Knott from my watch list. He suffered his second straight defeat when fading from a pace-tracking position to finish third by 4 3/4 lengths.

Woodbine, race 9: I’m puzzled by the defeat of Paramount Prince in the Durham Cup (G3) at Woodbine. Last year’s King’s Plate winner started as an odds-on favorite, but faded after setting the pace to finish last out of five, beaten 7 3/4 lengths. He’d never previously missed the trifecta over the Woodbine Tapeta, so I’ll draw a line through this effort and keep Paramount Prince on my watch list. I’m optimistic he can bounce back in a race like the Nov. 9 Autumn (G2) racing 1 1/8 miles over the Woodbine Tapeta.

Santa Anita, race 9: Muth was likewise a disappointing performer when facing older rivals for the first time in the $1 million California Crown (G1). After sticking within a couple lengths of the pace in third place, he gave way to finish last out of six, beaten 15 3/4 lengths. It was his first defeat from four starts this year, so I’ll give Muth a chance to bounce back next time.

Churchill Downs, race 9: Good Cheer is new to my watch list after bringing her record to 2-for-2 with a stunning allowance victory racing 1 1/16 miles. Coming off an 8 1/4-length debut victory racing one mile at Horseshoe Indianapolis, the Godolphin homebred smashed her competition at Churchill Downs, launching a last-to-first rally to beat four rivals by 17 lengths in 1:45.20 seconds. This 2-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro looks like a good one for trainer Brad Cox.

Sunday

Belmont at the Big A, race 2: Ways and Means picked up her third straight win as a watch list member when powering to a decisive score in the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom (G2) at Belmont at the Big A. Facing older rivals, Ways and Means pressed undefeated fellow watch list member Nic’s Style through splits of 22.65 and 45.96 seconds before finishing fast (final five-sixteenths of a mile in about 29.48 seconds) to dominate by four lengths in the fast time of 1:15.46 seconds. She’s shaping up as a serious Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint threat.

Nic’s Style ran well in defeat, staying on to finish second by 2 3/4 lengths over four-time stakes winner Sterling Silver. She’s may have the ability to win a graded stakes in the not-too-distant future and is worth watching again.

Santa Anita, race 9: Straight No Chaser looked like his old self when returning from a layoff in the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), leading all the way through hot fractions of 21.83 and 44.28 seconds on his way to victory by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:08.54 seconds. The speedy 5-year-old is rounding back to peak form just in time for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Entries

Wednesday

Oi Racecourse (Japan), race 11: Japan’s UAE Derby (G2) winner Forever Young is slated to start in the Japan Dirt Classic, a local Group 1 race on Japan’s National Association of Racing circuit. Held over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), the Japan Dirt Classic will mark Forever Young’s first start since finishing third by two noses in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He’s facing a large field, including the red-hot Tokyo Derby winner Ramjet, but Forever Young should be formidable if he brings his A game off the layoff.