Photo:

Adam Coglianese / NYRA

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

Wednesday

Oi Racecourse (Japan), race 11: In his first start since finishing third by two noses in the Kentucky Derby, Forever Young won the Japan Dirt Classic racing about 1 1/4 miles, sticking close to the early pace before taking over to score by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:04.10. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is next.

Entries

Friday

Keeneland, race 4: Eclatant closed nicely from 2 1/2 lengths off the pace to win her debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. The 2-year-old Brad Cox trainee is the horse to beat while making her second start in a six-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer.

Belmont at the Big A, race 5: After returning from a layoff with a sixth-place finish in the Hopeful (G1), track-record-setting debut winner Mentee will try turf in the Futurity (G3).

Keeneland, race 6: Runner-up to champion Fierceness when debuting in August 2023 at Saratoga, Air of Defiance hasn’t started since dominating an October 2023 maiden special weight sprinting seven furlongs at Keeneland. He’ll make his long-awaited return to action in a seven-furlong allowance.

Keeneland, race 7: Federal Judge was much the best in a 6 1/2-furlong $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga last month, wiring the field by six lengths. He’s a serious win threat while stepping up in class for the Phoenix (G2).

Keeneland, race 8: Destino d’Oro unleashed a powerful rally to easily win her debut racing one mile at Kentucky Downs. She’s a serious win threat while jumping up in class for the Jessamine (G2). Virgin Colada, runner-up in the P. G. Johnson at Saratoga, is on the also-eligible list.

Saturday

Belmont at the Big A, race 8: Uncaged is bred to shine in the spring classics, but showed enough speed and early maturity to win his debut sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga. He should appreciate stretching out over one mile for the Champagne (G1).

Keeneland, race 8: Chili Flag completely misfired in the 1 1/8-mile Diana (G1) last time out, finishing ninth. But a slow pace didn’t help her chances. She’d previously won three straight graded stakes racing one mile, including the Just a Game (G1), and is eligible to rebound while returning to one mile for the First Lady (G1).

Santa Anita, race 3: Nooni tired after dueling for the lead through hot fractions in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), finishing fifth. She’d previously wired the Sorrento (G3) and may bounce back if allowed to set a more relaxed pace in the Oak Leaf (G2).

Keeneland, race 9: Four watch list members are entered in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1). Hopeful (G1) runner-up Ferocious is the favorite and the fastest horse on paper, but debut winners Handsome Pants and East Avenue have shown promise, and Optical could be a live longshot after unleashing a fast finish to dominate a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 14 lengths.

Keeneland, race 10: Carl Spackler is favored to win the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) after delivering a 3 1/2-length win in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) two months ago. But Fourstardave runner-up More Than Looks shouldn’t be underestimated; he was beaten only two lengths when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last year and may move forward in his second start of 2024.

Santa Anita, race 5: Impressive debut winner Vlahos has been freshened since running third in the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day and should appreciate cutting back to six furlongs for a $50,000 allowance optional claimer. His main competition is Pilot Commander, the San Vicente (G2) runner-up who recently returned from a six-month layoff to chase a blazing pace and run second in a $40,000 allowance optional claimer at Del Mar.

Santa Anita, race 7: After rattling off impressive victories in the Beholder Mile (G1), Great Lady M (G2) and Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3), Sweet Azteca is the odds-on favorite to add the Chillingworth (G3) to her accomplished record.

Santa Anita, race 9: McKinzie Street and Citizen Bull, debut winners who finished second and third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), are two of the three favorites while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles for the American Pharoah (G1). The other short-priced entrant is Best Pal (G3) winner Getaway Car, who faded to finish fourth in the Del Mar Futurity after setting a fast pace. With Del Mar Futurity winner Gaming skipping the American Pharoah, there’s a chance McKinzie Street, Citizen Bull and Getaway Car will run 1-2-3 in one order or another.

Sunday

Belmont at the Big A, race 6: Since P. G. Johnson runner-up Virgin Colada is on the also-eligible list for the Jessamine at Keeneland, chances are we’ll see her contest the Miss Grillo (G2) instead. She was supposed to run in the Miss Grillo last week, but the race was postponed due to rain.

Keeneland, race 9: Idiomatic nearly won the Personal Ensign (G1) after engaging in an intense early duel with multiple Grade 1 winner Randomized, but she got caught in the final furlong by late-running Raging Sea. The competition is easier in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland, so Idiomatic has every chance to win this top-tier prize for the second straight year.

Santa Anita, race 8: Iron Man Cal ran his final furlong in a swift 11.46 seconds on his way to victory in a one-mile maiden special weight at Del Mar last month. He’s a serious win threat while making his stakes debut in the Zuma Beach (G3).