Horses to Watch: Follow these 22 from Belmont week

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

Barksdale

Barksdale didn’t have a fair chance to win the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga, not after dueling for the lead through absolutely blazing fractions of 21.37 and 43.08 seconds. He and the pace-pressing Chick Lang (G3) winner Frost Free opened up seven lengths on the rest of the field with three furlongs remaining.

Understandably, Barksdale gave way and finished 10th, ahead of only Frost Free. The pace meltdown was so extreme that the top four finishers after half a mile were eight lengths, 14 lengths, 18 1/2 lengths and 27 1/2 lengths off the lead. Prior to the Woody Stephens, Barksdale had won back-to-back allowance sprints at Keeneland and Aqueduct by daylight margins, so I think there’s a strong chance he’ll rebound if allowed to set an easier pace next time.

Midnight Dajoey

Midnight Dajoey debuted in a 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta maiden special weight on May 29 at Presque Isle Downs, and wow did he impress. The 5-year-old gelding settled in fourth place behind splits of 23.13 and 46.43 seconds, then rocketed his fourth quarter-mile in about 23.55 seconds and his final sixteenth in a blazing 5.68 seconds to dominate by nine lengths under an easy ride in 1:15.78.

Visually, this was a terrific performance. Midnight Dajoey was in front by a head passing the eighth pole and built his nine-length lead in the final furlong alone. It took Midnight Dajoey a long time to reach the races, but it’s easy to see why his connections persevered – there’s talent here.

Mysterious Night

Winner of the Summer (G1) at Woodbine two years ago, Mysterious Night returned to North American for the Poker (G3) at Saratoga and ran well under challenging circumstances. After rating as far back as fourth place behind slow fractions of 24.41, 48.17 and 1:11.34 set by a gate-to-wire winner, Mysterious Night found himself boxed in with nowhere to run. He got out of traffic too late to challenge for victory, but did gobble up ground in the final strides to finish second by one length. With a clear trip, I believe Mysterious Night would have won.

Recent watch list winners

Arthur’s Ride

Stretched out over 1 1/4 miles for a $62,500 allowance optional claimer on Friday at Saratoga and absolutely obliterated his competition, leading all the way through splits of 23.83, 47.73 and 1:12.01 to win by 12 3/4 lengths in 2:00.99. A graded stakes is surely next for this 4-year-old son of Tapit, who earned a massive 111 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

Cogburn

Cogburn was simply sensational in the Jaipur (G1) at Saratoga, dashing to the front through blazing fractions of 21.33 and 43.07 seconds before surging away to beat multiple graded stakes winner Arzak by 3 1/2 lengths in 59.80 seconds. His winning time was a North American record and translated to a 111 Beyer Speed Figure, so Cogburn has to be viewed as the early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

Chili Flag

Chili Flag picked up her third straight graded victory when launching a last-to-first rally in the one-mile Just a Game (G1) at Saratoga, scoring by half a length over last year’s Diana (G1) winner Whitebeam in 1:35.01. At this point, Chili Flag has to be viewed as the nation’s leading female turf miler.

Didia

The ever-consistent Didia picked up her first U.S. Grade 1 win when bursting to a decisive triumph in the 1 3/16-mile New York (G1) at Saratoga. After settling in fourth place behind decent fractions of 23.18, 47.74 and 1:11.92, she rallied to the front and held off a pair of deep closers to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:52.29. An excellent performance.

General Partner

Unraced since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, last year’s Champagne (G1) runner-up General Partner came back a winner in a one-mile allowance on Saturday at Saratoga. He raced in second through fractions of 23.64, 47.12 and 1:10.89, strong splits given the modest 20-foot run-up distance. He then blazed his final two furlongs in 11.86 and 12.49 seconds to win by five lengths in 1:35.24. Considering multiple Grade 1-winner National Treasure required 1:35.12 to win the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) later on the card, it’s safe to say General Partner ran a big race.

Jefferson Street

Bill Mott’s 3-year-old Jefferson Street has shown flashes of talent, but he ran out of his skin in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Friday at Saratoga, settling in third place behind fractions of 21.77 and 44.17 seconds before taking over to dominate by eight lengths in 1:14.96. He earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure and looks bound for stakes company.

Parenting

When Parenting won the Affirmed at Santa Anita, he gave notice that he’ll be a 3-year-old to reckon with during the second half of this year. The Bob Baffert-trained son of Justify brought his record to 2-for-2 with a powerful victory. Stepping up from a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight to a 1 1/16-mile stakes proved no obstacle as Parenting dueled through fractions of 23.46, 46.90 and 1:10.77 before pulling away to win easily by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:42.57. An impressive performance.

Thorpedo Anna

Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna brought her 2024 record to 3-for-3 with a runaway victory in the Acorn (G1) at Saratoga. She pressed splits of 23.53, 46.75 and 1:10.24 set by champion and Oaks runner-up Just F Y I, then took over and drew clear to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:49.02. Thorpedo Anna is well on her way to winning the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly.

Worth another try

Carl Spackler

Although Carl Spackler was beaten to fifth place as the favorite in the Poker, a slow early/fast late race shape (with every quarter mile going quicker than the previous) compromised his midpack running style. Hardly anyone changed positions, and the winner led all the way, so I’ll give Carl Spackler a chance to rebound with a better setup next time.

El Capi

Flashy debut winner El Capi set intense fractions of 21.77 and 44.17 seconds in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Friday at Saratoga before fading to finish fourth, 9 3/4 lengths behind Jefferson Street. Since he was returning from a seven-month layoff, I’ll wait and see how El Capi fares next time before deciding whether to drop him from my watch list.

Idiomatic

Although Idiomatic’s six-race win streak ended in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga, she arguably ran the best race. She didn’t get off to a great start and raced wide around the turns before failing by a head to reel in Grade 1 winner Randomized, who saved more ground. The final three furlongs elapsed in 36.99 seconds, and the final time was a respectable 1:49.58, so Randomized wasn’t stopping and Idiomatic did well to fall just short of victory.

Leslie’s Rose

Ashland (G1) winner Leslie’s Rose bounced back from a 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks to run second in the Acorn. While she was no match for Thorpedo Anna, she rallied nicely from as far back as fourth place and counted many accomplished fillies among her beaten rivals, so I’ll give Leslie’s Rose at least one more chance to get back in the winner’s circle.

Mindframe

Making only his third start, Mindframe tracked sharp fractions of 22.99, 47.25 and 1:10.67 in the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga before launching a challenge in the homestretch. He led by a head in midstretch, but raced greenly in response to the whip, drifting out and then in again while failing by half a length to beat Dornoch. This is definitely an effort Mindframe can build upon.

Mystik Dan

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan misfired in the Belmont, finishing a distant eighth, but he’s had a busy campaign and may rebound after taking some time off. I won’t drop him from my watch list just yet.

Nothing Like You

Runaway Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner Nothing Like You faltered as the 1-2 favorite against three rivals in the Summertime Oaks (G2), finishing second by 9 3/4 lengths. She hasn’t been the most consistent filly so far, but she’s excellent on her best day, and I’ll give her a chance to rebound next time.

Prince of Monaco

Making his first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Prince of Monaco overcame a significantly troubled start to close a ton of ground and finish second by half a length in the Woody Stephens. He gained 3 1/2 lengths through the final furlong alone, so even though Barksdale’s destructive early pace helped Prince of Monaco’s chances, I’ll view this comeback in a positive light.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone didn’t get off to the best start in the Belmont and trailed with a quarter-mile remaining, but he flew home down the homestretch to finish third by 1 1/2 lengths. A fast early/slow late race shape helped his chances, but after placing in two classics Sierra Leone has to be ranked among the leading 3-year-olds in the country.

Suncroft

Suncroft didn’t fare as well as I’d hoped in a seven-furlong $80,000 allowance optional claimer on Saturday at Churchill Downs, finishing third by 3 1/2 lengths after setting fractions of 22.89 and 45.56 seconds. But the final time of 1:21.72 was strong, and Suncroft is bred top and bottom to shine running long, so there may still be potential here.

War Like Goddess

Two-time Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) winner War Like Goddess kicked off her 7-year-old campaign with a fine try in the New York, rallying from 12th place to finish third by 3 1/4 lengths. Considering 1 3/16 miles is well short of War Like Goddess’s best distance, this was an admirable comeback effort.

Off the watch list

Be You

Far Bridge

I’m Very Busy

Nash

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