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.
New to the watch list
Gaming
On the same weekend that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert saddled a pair of juvenile graded-stakes winners at Del Mar, he also sent out Gaming to dominate a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over California’s seaside oval.
Gaming proved much the best under jockey Juan Hernandez. Leading by a half-length through fractions of 21.87 and 44.71 seconds did nothing to tire the son of champion juvenile Game Winner, as Gaming powered away down the lane to prevail by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:17.42 in an impressive debut.
More Than Looks
Winner of the Grade 3 Manila last year, More Than Looks was supposed to kick off 2024 in last week’s Lure at Saratoga, but when that race got rained off the turf, he was rerouted to the tougher Fourstardave Handicap (G1). Rating as many as seven lengths behind slow fractions of 24.76, 49.24 and 1:13.58 over a good course surely didn’t help his chances, but More Than Looks nevertheless closed strongly, running his final quarter-mile in 22.89 seconds according to the Equibase GPS chart, to finish second by 3 1/2 lengths.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux indicated beforehand that More Than Looks was not cranked for a maximum effort in his first start of the season, so under the circumstances he ran quite well and is eligible to improve moving forward.
Showcase
Showcase dazzled when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight July 6 at Saratoga, tracking the pace before taking over to win by 7 1/2 lengths. He was just as impressive, though in a different way, when bringing his record to 2-for-2 with a win in the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga.
Showing the ability to rate behind rivals, Showcase settled in fifth position for much of the Saratoga Special, racing as many as three lengths behind pace fractions of 21.85 and 44.78 seconds. He then had to wait in traffic down the homestretch before shifting outside to roar past the leader and dominate by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:16.40. This Todd Pletcher-trained 2-year-old son of Uncle Mo looks ready to join the Grade 1 ranks.
Recent watch list winners
Carl Spackler
Carl Spackler relished racing over a rain-dampened good turf course in the Fourstardave. Making his first start at the Grade 1 level, Carl Spackler raced in second through modest splits of 24.76, 49.24 and 1:13.58 before blazing his final quarter-mile in 22.83 seconds, according to the Equibase GPS chart, to score by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:36.63. He’s now a four-time graded-stakes winner at Saratoga.
Getaway Car
Getaway Car picked up his second win from as many starts when trouncing the six-furlong Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar. The Baffert-trained juvenile led all the way through fractions of 22.20, 45.77 and 57.77 seconds and simply cruised to the finish line to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:10.73. A son of Curlin, Getaway Car looks like a serious contender for the Del Mar Futurity (G1).
Nooni
Baffert’s promising 2-year-old filly Nooni brought her record to 2-for-2 with a comfortable victory in the six-furlong Sorrento (G3) at Del Mar. After setting splits of 21.87 and 44.90 seconds, Nooni held off a bid from Debutante winner Vodka With a Twist to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths in the respectable time of 1:10.41.
Owen Almighty
Owen Almighty likewise brought his record to 2-for-2 with a decisive victory in the Ellis Park Juvenile at Ellis Park. The Brian Lynch-trained 2-year-old raced in third position behind fractions of 22.46 and 45.79 seconds, then took command in the homestretch to dominate by 4 3/4 lengths over Bashford Manor winner Politicallycorrect, completing seven furlongs in 1:24.36 seconds.
#7 Owen Almighty was superior in the Ellis Park Juvenile under @cristiantorr64 for trainer @blynchracing! ??
?? #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/pmOcLLUif0
— TwinSpires Racing ?? (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024
Saudi Crown
Bouncing back from a 12th-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1), Saudi Crown led from start to finish in the one-mile R.A. “Cowboy” Jones at Ellis Park, carving out increasingly stiff fractions of 23.01, 45.92 and 1:09.91 before kicking on to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:36.67 seconds. Last year’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner could develop into a major Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile contender.
#6 Saudi Crown returns to racing a winner in the R.A. “Cowboy” Jones S. at @ellisparkracing for trainer @bradcoxracing with @flothejock aboard! ??
?? #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/GsFFbFiWSb
— TwinSpires Racing ?? (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024
Moira
Coming off a pace-compromised runner-up effort in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga, Moira found a better setup and slightly easier competition in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D. (G2) at Colonial Downs. The result? A tenacious victory. Moira settled in third place as Fev Rover set fractions of 23.56, 49.22 and 1:12.69, then rallied gamely down the homestretch to beat the pacesetter by a head in 1:54.80.
The Canadian mares put on a show in the G2 Beverly D. Stakes at @colonialdowns with #6 Moira getting the win over Fev Rover for trainer Kevin Attard with @jose93_ortiz aboard! ??????
?? #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/9dkjRp4cx4
— TwinSpires Racing ?? (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024
Off the watch list
Adeera
Adeera suffered her second straight stakes defeat when finishing a distant third in the Ellis Park Debutante.
Apollo Ten
Apollo Ten put up a good try in the Mahony sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga, finishing third by 1 1/4 lengths despite being squeezed between rivals close to home. But it’s looking like Apollo Ten might have reached the ceiling for his potential, at least for the time being, as a listed-stakes runner.
Legend of Time
Legend of Time launched a nice rally down the homestretch of the Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga, but failed by three-quarters of a length to hold off the late charge of Carson’s Run. Legend of Time is 0-for-2 since stepping up into Grade 1 company and may need a slight class drop to get back in the winner’s circle.
Tarifa
Tarifa ran better in the Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park than she did when finishing ninth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), vying for command throughout before weakening late to finish second by 2 1/4 lengths. But after two defeats, I’ll want to see Tarifa bounce back with a winning run before supporting her again.
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Publish date : 2024-08-13 13:05:47
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