Photo:

Del Mar / Benoit Photo

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

Del Mar, race 7: Last year’s decisive Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner Tamara was beaten when ending a one-year layoff in a six-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs. But she didn’t run badly by any means. After settling 2 1/2 lengths behind an opening quarter-mile in 22.14 seconds, Tamara advanced steadily to finish second by a nose against pacesetter Sandy Bottom, who reached the finish line in 1:10.06. This is a comeback effort Tamara can build upon, so she’s worth watching again.

Saturday

Churchill Downs, race 3: Guns Loaded is new to my watch list after impressively winning a six-furlong maiden special weight.

Trained by Jose D’Angelo, the son of Gun Runner entered off a runner-up finish in his debut at Saratoga, in which he recovered from a stumbling start to press the pace and finish second against Dapper Moon, who has since earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points with fourth-place finishes in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Street Sense (G3).

Guns Loaded broke much better in his second start and opened up a daylight lead through quick fractions of 21.42 and 44.73 seconds. His early pursuers all faded, but Guns Loaded kept going, hitting the finish line in front by 2 3/4 lengths in the quick time of 1:09.90. That effort yielded a sharp 88 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form, suggesting Guns Loaded is a road to the Kentucky Derby contender in the making.

Del Mar, race 2: Silent Law suffered her first defeat from three starts when finishing second in the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz. But the Bob Baffert-trained juvenile filly put forth a good try. She dueled with eventual winner Practical Dream through an opening quarter-mile in 22.50 seconds, dropped back to second place by as many as two lengths and then re-rallied in the final furlong to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind. I’ll keep Silent Law on my watch list and give her a chance to bounce back next time.

Woodbine, race 10: Coming off an unexpected last-place finish in the Durham Cup (G2), Paramount Prince ran below form again in the Autumn (G2). After carving out fractions of 23.60, 47.18 and 1:10.80 on the front end, Paramount Prince faded to finish last out of eight. I’ll drop him from my watch list.

Sunday

Del Mar, race 8: Engaging in a three-way duel for supremacy through blazing fractions of 21.63 and 43.93 seconds didn’t help McKinzie Street in the seven-furlong Bob Hope (G3); he understandably tired to finish third by 7 1/2 lengths against two stretch-runners. But after three straight defeats, I’ll remove McKinzie Street from my watch list.