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

Saturday

Santa Anita, race 2: Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is loaded with possible contenders for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. His latest is Rodriguez, a new member of my watch list after posting a flashy win in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita.

Coming off a runner-up finish in his debut sprinting against Romanesque, who we will discuss in a moment, Rodriguez appreciated stretching out around two turns at Santa Anita. The son of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic set fractions of 22.91, 46.33 and 1:10.27 on his way to victory by seven lengths in 1:35.91.

For comparison, the Grade 1-placed 4-year-old Mirahmadi required 1:36.15 to win a $50,000 allowance optional claimer later on the card. Rodriguez’s sharp maiden win suggests he’s a graded stakes horse in the making.

Santa Anita, race 5: Watch list members Barnes and Romanesque swept the exacta in the San Vicente (G2), and both of these Baffert trainees appear poised for success on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Barnes impressed in his stakes debut. Improving off a maiden win at Churchill Downs, Barnes pressed reasonable fractions of 22.65 and 45.10 before pulling away with authority to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:22.15.

As for Romanesque, he received a tricky trip in his second start, spending much of the race boxed in behind and between horses. He lacked racing room at the top of the stretch, but got out in time to close for second place over Bob Hope (G3) winner Bullard. This is an effort Romanesque can build upon.

Santa Anita, race 7: Eagles Flight, a half-brother to 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, ended a long layoff in a one-mile $50,000 allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita.

Making only his second start, and his first against proven winners, Eagles Flight ran respectably, tracking splits of 22.44, 46.02 and 1:10.05 in second place before staying on to finish second by 4 1/2 lengths against gate-to-wire winner Mirahmadi, runner-up in the 2023 Del Mar Futurity (G1).

I’m optimistic Eagles Flight will move forward off this comeback effort, so I’ll keep him on my watch list.

Gulfstream Park, race 10: Watch list member Guns Loaded delivered a gallant victory in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man.

Coming off a sharp maiden win at Churchill Downs, Guns Loaded showed speed from the start at Gulfstream, setting fractions of 24.54, 47.61 and 1:12.75 before digging deep to turn back a late challenge and prevail by a neck in 1:38.87.

The runner-up pulled 3 3/4 lengths clear of the rest, so this was an encouraging stakes debut from Guns Loaded.

Oaklawn, race 9: Kale’s Angel was beaten to third place in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones, but I won’t judge his effort too harshly. The speedy Advent winner was stretching out three furlongs in distance and probably wasn’t helped by rating off the lead through pedestrian fractions of 24.11, 49.03 and 1:15.64, which took away the advantage of his early speed.

Even still, Kale’s Angel fought on gamely to miss second place by only a neck. Cutting back in distance should help Kale’s Angel rebound.

Santa Anita, race 9: A multiple Group 1 winner in her native Chile, Richi is new to my watch list after delivering a sharp victory in the six-furlong Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita.

Richi had only run once before in the United States, finishing second in the Desert Stormer last June. She shrugged a seven-month layoff with aplomb in the Los Flores, rating a couple lengths behind an opening quarter-mile in 22.70 seconds before advancing steadily to beat Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint third-place finisher Pleasant by 1 1/2 lengths in the sharp time of 1:09.05.

Pleasant was beaten only half a length at the Breeders’ Cup, so Richi conquered a talented rival. She looks ready for a productive 2025 season.

Sunday

Oaklawn, race 5: Although watch list member Bishops Bay was beaten in a 1 1/16-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer, he ran well in defeat and is worth watching again.

Making his second start back from a long layoff, Bishops Bay set quick fractions of 22.71, 46.85 and 1:12.63 over the tiring Oaklawn dirt before battling tenaciously to finish second by a head against Black Powder, who closed from midfield. The final time of 1:44.87 was respectable and Bishops Bay pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear of the third-place finisher, so this was another solid step in Bishops Bay’s comeback.

Santa Anita, race 7: Silent Law carved out fractions of 22.14 and 44.98 seconds in the seven-furlong Santa Ynez before tiring to finish third, beaten 4 1/4 lengths. After two straight defeats, I’ll drop Silent Law from my watch list.

2025 Watch List Record

In 2025, horses on my watch list have recorded 7 starts, 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds for a 29 percent win rate and a 100 percent in-the-money rate.