Photo:

Gary Johnson / Eclipse Sportswire

In this biweekly series, racing analyst 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.

Entries

Friday

Santa Anita, race 2: Silent Law impressed in her debut dashing five furlongs at Los Alamitos, pressing the pace on her way to victory by 10 lengths. The Bob Baffert-trained filly is facing a tough field in her second start, the six-furlong Anoakia for 2-year-old fillies, but she has a strong chance to prevail under hot jockey Juan Hernandez. According to Brisnet statistics, Hernandez has gone 20-for-43 (47 percent) teaming up with Baffert over the last two months.

Keeneland, race 8: Long Neck Paula was much the best in the Prairie Meadows Debutante two months ago, winning under wraps by 7 1/2 lengths over next-out stakes winner Glee. She’s entered in two stakes at Keeneland this week, the first of which is Friday’s six-furlong Myrtlewood for juvenile fillies. If Long Neck Paula starts here, don’t be surprised if she outruns her 10-1 morning line odds while picking up internationally renowned jockey Frankie Dettori.

Saturday

Keeneland, race 6: Two watch list members are entered in the six-furlong Bowman Mill for two-year-olds. Long Neck Paula is one; if she starts here instead of in the Myrtlewood, she’ll be facing colts.

One of the talented colts in the entries is Mitty’s Griddy. The son of champion male sprinter Mitole impressed in his debut sprinting six furlongs against maiden special weight competition at Churchill Downs, rallying from last place in a 12-horse field to win by one length.

A fast early/slow late race shape helped Mitty’s Griddy catch up, but he actually ran his final quarter-mile in a strong 23.58 seconds per the Equibase GPS result chart. That allowed him to gain 6 3/4 lengths through the final furlong alone. Mitty’s Griddy appears to have upside for hot trainer Brad Cox (a 39 percent winner at Keeneland this meet) and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Santa Anita, race 6: A beautifully bred son of Curlin out of two-time champion Unique Bella, Ultra Power recently returned from a long layoff to smash a one-mile $40,000 allowance optional claimer at Del Mar by seven lengths, earning a flashy 104 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

Now Ultra Power is tackling an $80,000 allowance optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. If the Bob Baffert trainee can reproduce his Del Mar comeback effort under jockey Juan Hernandez, he can win right back and continue on to the stakes ranks.

Sunday

Churchill Downs, race 9: Good Cheer is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts for Brad Cox. After smashing a one-mile maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis by 8 1/4 lengths, she took her game on the road to Churchill Downs and obliterated a 1 1/16-mile allowance by 17 lengths.

These efforts have stamped Good Cheer as a 6-5 morning line favorite to win the Rags to Riches, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. This looks like a perfect spot for Good Cheer to take on tougher company and stake her claim as a serious 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender.

Santa Anita, race 8: Bob Baffert’s Pilot Commander hasn’t missed the exacta in four starts. Last time out, he was sharp as could be in a $50,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting six furlongs at Santa Anita, pressing a hot pace before taking over to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Next up is a 6 1/2-furlong $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita. Pilot Commander is facing some capable rivals, including his Dwyer (G3)-winning stablemate Fort Bragg, but a repeat of his last run should be sufficient for Pilot Commander to record a second straight win.