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

Friday

Oaklawn, race 9: Kale’s Angel spent his first four starts competing on turf in California, with only a maiden special weight victory to show for his efforts.

It appears Kale’s Angel is actually a dirt horse. When he switched surfaces for the 5 1/2-furlong Advent at Oaklawn, the Peter Miller trainee ran out of his skin. First he tracked and pressed fractions of 22.87 and 46.49 seconds set by 1-2 favorite Innovator. Then he seized command and drew off to beat that rival by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:04.40, earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

The future looks bright for Kale’s Angel, so I’m adding him to my watch list. Perhaps he can develop into a dominant 3-year-old dirt sprinter in 2025.

Saturday

Aqueduct, race 7: Keewaydin started as the 9-10 favorite while making his two-turn debut in the Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile Remsen. But after pressing the pace and briefly leading through splits of 23.95, 48.59 and 1:13.32, Keewaydin came up empty, fading to finish fifth by 9 1/2 lengths. Perhaps he struggled while stretching out in distance, or maybe he misfired for an unclear reason. Either way, I’ll give this watch list member a chance to rebound next time.

At the same time, I’m adding Remsen runner-up Aviator Gui to my watch list. The Chad Brown-trained son of Uncle Mo had to wait in traffic around the final turn, which arguably cost him victory. Once in the clear, Aviator Gui rallied fast, running his final furlong in 12.32 seconds, according to the Equibase GPS result chart, to finish second by a nose. Past Brown trainees who have suffered narrow defeats in the Remsen include Kentucky Derby top-four finishers Sierra Leone, Zandon and Normandy Invasion, so Aviator Gui is in good company.

Aqueduct, race 8: Muhimma picked up her second win as a watch list member when bringing her career tally to 3-for-3 in the 1 1/8-mile Demoiselle (G2). The daughter of Munnings had to work harder in her stakes debut, but after setting fractions of 23.94, 48.24 and 1:12.55 she successfully turned back a challenge from Ballerina d’Oro to win by one length in the strong time of 1:49.84. Muhimma earned a 90 Beyer and looks like a serious 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender.

Aqueduct, race 9: Last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Locked continued his comeback with a stretch-running score over older rivals in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2). In his second start back from a long layoff, the 3-year-old son of Gun Runner rated in sixth place behind quick splits of 22.87, 45.30 and 1:09.81, then charged with determination through the final furlong to defeat Forego (G1) winner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint third-place finisher Mullikin by one length in 1:34.52. According to David Grening of DRF, the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Saudi Cup (G1) are options for Locked’s next start, and I believe he’ll be formidable in either spot.

Entries

Wednesday

Mahoning Valley, race 3: Perfect Shances faltered when last seen in the May 11 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies on turf at Gulfstream Park, finishing seventh. But in her debut on dirt at Keeneland, Perfect Shances wired a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by 4 3/4 lengths. She’s ending a seven-month layoff in a six-furlong dirt allowance on Wednesday at Mahoning Valley, and switching surfaces might send her back to the winner’s circle for high-percentage trainer Wesley Ward.