Photo:

Lauren King / Gulfstream Park

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.

Entries

Saturday

Gulfstream Park, race 9: I’m excited to see the lightly raced Knightsbridge make his 4-year-old debut in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer racing one mile over the Gulfstream main track.

Knightsbridge has shown flashes of serious talent in three widely spaced starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. He debuted on Nov. 4, 2023 and dominated a seven-furlong Churchill Downs maiden special weight by 10 1/2 lengths. Then on March 28, 2024 he wired a one-mile $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream by nine lengths. Finally, on Oct. 19, 2024, he rallied to finish third, beaten only one length, in Keeneland’s seven-furlong Perryville (G3).

Knightsbridge has turned in sharp workouts in advance of his return and should be tough to beat, even off the layoff. I believe this son of Kentucky Derby winner Nqyuist has the potential to develop into a serious graded stakes horse this season – maybe even a Grade 1 winner.

Fair Grounds, race 11: Hall of Fame has been in hot form since ending a lengthy layoff in December. First he won a one-mile allowance at Churchill Downs in the fast time of 1:33.79 seconds. Then he wired a 1 1/16-mile $50,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds by 6 1/2 lengths, earning a strong 103 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

Now Hall of Fame is climbing the class ladder for the 1 1/16-mile Mineshaft (G3). He’s facing a bevy of talented rivals including 2024 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom, but Hall of Fame is progressing in the right direction and looks fast enough to challenge for the hot jockey-trainer duo of Jose Ortiz and Steve Asmussen.

Fair Grounds, race 13: The undefeated Good Cheer won all four of her starts last year by a minimum of 2 1/2 lengths. She was a dominant force at Churchill Downs during the fall, smashing an allowance before taking the Rags to Riches and Golden Rod (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

Those strong showings stamp Good Cheer as the filly to beat while making her 3-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra (G2). Trainer Brad Cox has won this race three times, including two of the last three editions, and Good Cheer is widely expected to add to Cox’s tally.

Fair Grounds, race 14: Which version of East Avenue will show up in the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star (G2) – the one who dominated the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) by 5 1/4 lengths, or the one who finished a distant ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile?

It’s hard to gauge East Avenue’s talent. He was aided by a rail bias in the Breeders’ Futurity, but compromised by a severe stumble at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Risen Star will give us a better feel for where East Avenue fits into the picture of top Kentucky Derby contenders. Fast workouts at Fair Grounds suggest this Godolphin homebred may fire a big effort in his return from a 3 1/2-month layoff.

Sunday

Gulfstream Park, race 4: Victory Avenue has only run once. Back in January 2024, he finished second in a fast seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by next-out allowance winner Speak Easy. Even in defeat, Victory Avenue earned a sharp 97 Beyer.

After more than one year on the sidelines, Victory Avenue will make his second start in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream. The son of Arrogate has turned in eight workouts since early December and should have every chance to return victorious for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Gustavo Delgado.

Sunland Park, race 7: Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the Sunland Park Oaks a record eight times. He can pick up a ninth victory when he sends out Maysam in Sunday’s renewal of the one-mile Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier.

Maysam debuted with a sharp victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita last month, pressing the pace before taking over to win by six lengths. The daughter of champion juvenile Game Winner has the pedigree to stretch in distance, and she’s facing only half a dozen rivals, so her path to the Sunland Park winner’s circle looks clear.

2025 Watch List Record

In 2025, horses on my watch list have recorded 34 starts, 12 wins, 8 seconds, and 5 thirds for a 35 percent win rate and a 74 percent in-the-money rate.