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.
Upcoming entries
Arthur’s Ride
Arthur’s Ride was spectacular in a 1 1/4-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga two months ago, leading all the way to smash his rivals by 12 3/4 lengths with a 111 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. He’ll face tougher competition over a shorter distance in Saturday’s 11th race at Saratoga, the Whitney (G1), post time 5:42 p.m. EDT, but there’s a chance Arthur’s Ride is talented enough to overcome those obstacles.
Cinderella’s Dream
Cinderella’s Dream unleashed an awesome homestretch rally to win the 1 3/16-mile Belmont Oaks (G1), running her final three furlongs in 33.54 seconds to gain 3 1/4 lengths through the final furlong alone and prevail in the course-record time of 1:53.42 seconds. She looms as the filly to beat while sticking to 1 3/16 miles for Friday’s eighth race at Saratoga, the Saratoga Oaks (G2), post time 5:10 p.m. EDT.
Cogburn
Cogburn has been on fire this year, dominating deep fields in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) and Jaipur (G1). In the latter race, held over 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, Cogburn won by 3 1/2 lengths in the North American record time of 59.80 seconds, earning a massive 111 Beyer Speed Figure. He’s an odds-on favorite to keep his win streak going while tackling the Jaipur course and distance in Saturday’s 10th race at Saratoga, the Troy (G2), post time 5:04 p.m. EDT.
Disarm
Disarm has long shown flashes of talent; as a 3-year-old last year he won the Matt Winn (G3) and recorded top-four finishes in the Travers (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1), Louisiana Derby (G2) and Lexington (G3). A recent sixth-place finish in the Stephen Foster (G1) was disappointing, but if Disarm can recapture his best form while taking on tough competition in the Whitney, he can outrun his 15-1 morning line odds.
Extra Añejo
Extra Añejo doesn’t always bring his A game; last time out he finished seventh as the favorite in the Hanshin at Churchill Downs. But two starts back he trounced a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill by 3 1/2 lengths, so a peak performance could put Extra Añejo in the hunt to win Sunday’s seventh race at Mountaineer, the West Virginia Governor’s (G3), post time 7:40 p.m. EDT.
First Mission
Like Disarm, First Mission ran below expectations in the Stephen Foster, fading from a pacesetting position to finish fourth by 3 1/4 lengths as an odds-on favorite. He’d previously trounced the Alysheba (G2) and Essex Handicap (G3) by daylight margins, so on his best day First Mission is capable of factoring in the Whitney.
Legend of Time
Legend of Time wasn’t helped by a slow pace when finishing third by 1 1/4 lengths in the Belmont Derby (G1) last time out. Two starts back, he launched a strong homestretch rally to defeat Belmont Derby runner-up White Palomino by a head in the Pennine Ridge (G2), so if Legend of Time gets a better pace setup in Saturday’s seventh race at Saratoga, the Saratoga Derby (G1), post time 3:21 p.m. EDT, he’s eligible to rebound.
Next
Sensational long-distance dirt racer Next is 2-for-2 this year, smashing the 1 1/2-mile Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill Downs in track-record time before dominating the 1 3/8-mile Brooklyn (G2) with a powerful 109 Beyer Speed Figure. He’s hands-down the horse to beat while facing only four rivals in Sunday’s second race at Saratoga, the Birdstone, witpost time 1:44 p.m. EDT. Next won the race by 11 3/4 lengths last year.
Ova Charged
Ova Charged is 15-for-18 lifetime and 5-for-5 on turf. She’s won seven starts in a row leading up to Saturday’s seventh race at Ellis Park, the KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint, post time 3:52 p.m. EDT, and looms as the mare to beat in the 5 1/2-furlong grass dash. Much of Ova Charged’s success has come against Louisiana-bred competition, but she also proved good enough to win the Unbridled Sidney (G3) at Churchill Downs during the spring.
Rhyme Schemes
Rhyme Schemes hasn’t started since August 2023, when he smashed the Saratoga Special (G2) by 9 1/2 lengths. Now 3 years old, this talented Norm Casse trainee is making his long-awaited return in Saturday’s third race at Ellis Park, a six-furlong $50,000 allowance optional claimer, post time 1:49 p.m. EDT. If he picks up where he left off, Rhyme Schemes could enjoy a productive second half of 2024.
Ways and Means
Ways and Means caught eyes when she dominated a one-mile allowance at Saratoga two months ago by 8 1/4 lengths, earning a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. After a couple of defeats running long during the spring, it appears Ways and Means might be a sprinter/miler at heart, so she looms as a clear favorite while cutting back to seven furlongs in Saturday’s eighth race at Saratoga, the Test (G1), post time 3:54 p.m. EDT.
