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
Endlessly
Endlessly ranked among the best American two-year-olds on turf last year, dominating the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) and Zuma Beach (G3) before finishing eighth (beaten only 3 1/2 lengths) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
This year, Endlessly has won the El Camino Real Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Tapeta and finished a respectable ninth in the Kentucky Derby on dirt. He’s getting back to grass for Saturday’s sixth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Belmont Derby (G1), post time 3:08 p.m. EDT. and looms as a dangerous contender from off the pace.
Lakota Territory
It’s been 14 1/2 months since Lakota Territory debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. Then a 4-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher, Lakota Territory finished fast against a small field to beat a next-out winner by half a length, earning a respectable 96 Brisnet Speed rating.
Lakota Territory has yet to race again, but he’s put together a sharp work tab since mid-April and is eligible to factor while making his 5-year-old debut, and first start for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, in Sunday’s eighth race at Ellis Park, a six-furlong allowance, post time 4:19 p.m. EDT. If he can pick up where he left off, Lakota Territory may yet develop into a stakes horse.
Legend of Time
Victorious in five of his seven starts for high-percentage trainer Charlie Appleby, Legend of Time struggled in his U.S. debut, finishing fifth as the favorite in the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs. But three weeks later, he bounced back to his best in the Pennine Ridge (G2) at Belmont at the Big A, launching a last-to-first rally to win by a head.
This performance stamps Legend of Time as the horse to beat while making his Grade 1 debut in the Belmont Derby. He’ll have to turn the tables on American Turf winner Trikari, who has since finished third by a neck in the Penn Mile (G3), but that should be an attainable goal given how nicely Legend of Time stepped forward in the Pennine Ridge.
Mr. Wireless
Mr. Wireless may have faltered in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs (G1) two months ago, racing off the pace on his way to sixth place. But two starts back, in a six-furlong $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds, Mr. Wireless ended a lengthy layoff with a fast 4 1/4-length victory.
Most of Mr. Wireless’s success through the years has come running one mile or farther; he counts the 2021 West Virginia Derby (G3) and 2021 Oklahoma Derby (G3) as his signature wins. Perhaps stretching out over one mile and 70 yards for Saturday’s eighth race at Horseshoe Indianapolis, the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial, post time 4:26 p.m. EDT, can trigger a rebound from Mr. Wireless. It’s worth noting he won this race by two lengths in 2022.
Next
Next… what can I say? He’s far and away the best long-distance dirt racer in the United States. He’s won six of his last seven starts, all against stakes competition, while recording double-digit margins of victory on four occasions. He’s won three graded stakes, including the Greenwood Cup (G3) by 25 lengths, and he set a track record when dominating the Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill Downs to start 2024.
Suffice to say, Next is going to be a heavy favorite while racing 1 3/8 miles in Friday’s eighth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Brooklyn (G2), post time 4:42 p.m. EDT. He won this race last year when it was held over 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park and should be capable of posting a repeat win even under different conditions.
She Feels Pretty
It’s hard to knock anything She Feels Pretty has accomplished. She’s won three of her four starts, including last year’s Natalma (G1), and her lone defeat came by half a length in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
She Feels Pretty kicked off 2024 on a strong note, producing a fast finish to smash the Hilltop at Pimlico by 5 3/4 lengths. Even while facing a trio of international raiders in Saturday’s ninth race at Belmont at the Big A, the Belmont Oaks (G1), post time 4:42 p.m. EDT, She Feels Pretty looks like a formidable win threat.
War Like Goddess
War Like Goddess has long ranked among the best long-distance female grass runners in the United States. She gave notice that she’s ready for another productive season when starting 2024 with a rallying third-place finish in the New York (G1), a fine performance given the 1 3/16-mile distance was significantly shorter than her best.
War Like Goddess should have every chance to shine while stretching out over 1 3/8 miles in Sunday’s eighth race at Delaware Park, the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3), post time 4:14 p.m. EDT. The field has come up deep, but none of the other runners can boast form lines as compelling as those of War Like Goddess, who has twice beaten males in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).
Off the watch list
Alva Starr
Sadly, Madison (G1) winner Alva Starr suffered an injury during a morning workout and had to be euthanized.
Barksdale
Dueled for the lead through splits of 22.10 and 44.65 seconds in an off-the-turf running of the 5 1/2-furlong Dade Park Dash at Ellis Park, but faded in the drive to finish fourth by 3 1/4 lengths as an odds-on favorite.
Which horses do you have your eyes on?
