Photo:

Jon Putman / 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.

Results

Saturday

Gulfstream Park, race 7. Watch-list member River Thames brought his record to 2-for-2 with an impressive victory in a one-mile $75,000 allowance optional claimer. The Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old pressed splits of 23.89, 46.32 and 1:10.44 before drawing off with authority to win by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:36.34. A foray on the road to the Kentucky Derby could be next for this promising bay colt.

Santa Anita, race 3. Richi ran below my hopes in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Santa Monica, settling behind the leaders in a four-horse field before weakening in the drive to finish third by 5 3/4 lengths. But she was running back only four weeks after ending a long layoff with a win in the Las Flores (G3), so I’ll keep Richi on my watch list and see if she can recapture her winning form in her third start back.

I’ll also add Santa Monica conqueror Kopion to my watch list. Winner of the La Brea (G1) as a 3-year-old, Kopion made her 4-year-old debut in style, pressing the pace before finishing strongly to dominate by 4 1/2 lengths in the fast time of 1:21.27. She earned a massive 110 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form and is developing into a serious sprinter for trainer Richard Mandella. In fact, Kopion is now 4-for-4 dashing seven furlongs or less.

Gulfstream Park, race 9. Watch-list member Gunmetal may have been beaten to third place as the 9-10 favorite in the seven-furlong Swale, but pressing intense fractions of 21.93 and 43.92 seconds likely compromised his chances. I’ll give this flashy debut winner a chance to rebound.

Santa Anita race 4. Watch-list members Citizen Bull and Rodriguez ran to my expectations in the one-mile Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Citizen Bull led all the way through fractions of 23.27, 47.06 and 1:10.99 before kicking away to prevail by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:36.71, earning a strong 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rodriguez couldn’t quite keep pace with last year’s Champion Two-Year-Old Male, but he stayed on nicely for second place, 2 1/4 lengths clear of Bob Hope (G3) runner-up Madaket Road. I’ll keep Rodriguez on my watch list.

Gulfstream Park, race 11. I’m getting the impression Guns Loaded might be better sprinting than running long. His flashiest performance came in his maiden win sprinting, and while he hung on to win the one-mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream last month, he was weakening down the homestretch and prevailed by only a neck.

Guns Loaded made his two-turn debut in the Holy Bull (G3) last Saturday, and after tracking and setting fractions of 23.42, 47.60 and 1:11.69, he gave way to finish last out of seven. I’ll keep him on my watch list for at least one more race and see if a cutback in distance helps him bounce back.

Gulfstream Park, race 12. Watch list members Eclatant and Stunner, both trained by Brad Cox, ran 1-2 in the seven-furlong Forward Gal (G3), with Eclatant swooping from seventh place behind fast splits of 22.04 and 44.76 seconds to beat her stablemate by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:23.61.

As is customary for winners, Eclatant is staying on my watch list. Stunner also ran well after tracking the pace, but since she’s lost two straight races now, I’ll drop her from my watch list.

Santa Anita, race 8. Former claimer El Potente has really come to hand this year for trainer Dan Blacker. The 6-year-old grass miler won an $80,000 allowance optional claimer on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita by two lengths, and he followed up with an even sharper victory in the Thunder Road (G3) on Saturday.

In the Thunder Road, El Potente showed his typical tactical speed, racing in second place through fractions of 22.63, 46.17 and 1:09.43. Then he rocketed his final quarter-mile in 22.96 seconds, according to the Equibase GPS result chart, to win by three lengths in the strong time of 1:32.39.

El Potente looks like a great fit for next month’s Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, so I’m adding him to my watch list. I won’t be surprised if a month from now he’s a Grade 1 winner.

Delta Downs, race 10. Touchuponastar continued his domination of the Louisiana-bred ranks when taking the 1 1/16-mile LA Bred Premier Night Championship for the third year in a row. Despite setting strong fractions of 23.73, 46.93 and 1:11.47, Touchuponastar had plenty left to draw clear and prevail by 12 1/4 lengths as the 1-20 favorite. Could a return to the graded stakes ranks be in his future?

Sunday

Oaklawn, race 1. Stretching out for a one-mile maiden special weight seemed to trip up Prime Power. Coming off a sharp runner-up finish in his debut sprinting six furlongs, Primer Power tracked fractions of 23.84, 48.03 and 1:13.18 and took over the lead in mid-stretch, but faltered late to finish fourth by 1 3/4 lengths. Perhaps cutting back to a sprint distance will help this watch list member rebound.

2025 Watch-list record

In 2025, horses on my watch list have a record of 32: 11-7-5 for a 34 percent win rate and a 72 percent in-the-money rate.

Here is my complete, updated list of Horses to Watch.