6 this weekend includes 4 young people in action

Photo: Gary Johnson / Eclipse Sportswire

In this bi-weekly series, racing analyst Keeler Johnson highlights promising horses from his handicapped watch list, reviews runners who have recently caught his eye, and previews horses slated to return to racing in the near future.

Entries

Friday

Santa Anita, Race 2: Silent law impressed on her debut when she ran five furlongs at Los Alamitos and picked up the pace by ten lengths en route to victory. The Bob Baffert-trained filly faces a tough field in her second start, the six-furlong Anoakia for two-year-old fillies, but she has a great chance of making an impact under hot jockey Juan Hernandez. According to Brisnet stats, Hernandez has won 20-43 (47 percent) along with Baffert over the past two months.

Keeneland, Race 8: Long neck Paula was by far the best in the Prairie Meadows Debutante two months ago, winning under wraps by 7 1/2 lengths over the next stakes winner, Glee. She competed in two competitions at Keeneland this week, the first of which is Friday’s six-year-old Myrtlewood competition for young fillies. If Long Neck Paula starts here, don’t be surprised if she beats her 10/1 morning odds to take on internationally renowned jockey Frankie Dettori.

Saturday

Keeneland, Race 6: Two members of the watch list are registered at the six-eighths-mile Bowman Mill for two-year-olds. Long Neck Paula is one; If she starts here and not at Myrtlewood, she’ll be dealing with colts.

One of the talented stallions in the entries is Mitty’s Griddy. The son of male sprint champion Mitole impressed in his debut over six furlongs in the sprint against the premier special weight competition at Churchill Downs, recovering from last place in a 12-horse field to win by a length.

Fast early and slow late race form helped Mitty’s Griddy catch up, but he actually ran his final quarter-mile in a strong 23.58 seconds, according to the Equibase GPS results table. This allowed him to win by 6 3/4 lengths in the last 16 alone. Mitty’s griddy looks to be an advantage for hot trainer Brad Cox (a 39 percent winner at Keeneland in this matchup) and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Santa Anita, Race 6: Ultra Power, a beautifully bred son of Curlin out of two-time champion Unique Bella, recently returned from a long layoff to beat an optional 1-mile $40,000 flat-rate contender by seven lengths at Del Mar for an eye-catching 104- Beyer speed number to secure Daily racing form.

Now Ultra Power in Santa Anita is pursuing an optional claimant for $80,000 over 1 1/16 miles. If Bob Baffert’s youngster can repeat his comeback in Del Mar under jockey Juan Hernandez, he can win right back and stay on the field.

Sunday

Churchill Downs, Race 9: Good Cheer is undefeated and unchallenged for Brad Cox in two starts. After beating her first one-mile special by 8 1/4 lengths at the Horseshoe Indianapolis, she continued her game heading to Churchill Downs, crushing a 1 1/16-mile encore by 17 lengths.

Those efforts have made Good Cheer the 6-5 morning favorite to win the Rags to Riches, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier that gives the top five finishers 10-5-3-2-1 points. This appears to be the perfect place for Good Cheer to take on tougher company and stake her claim as a serious contender for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Santa Anita, Race 8: Bob Baffert’s pilot commander hasn’t missed the Exacta in four launches. He was as sharp as can be in an optional $50,000 Allowance claim last time out, sprinting six furlongs at Santa Anita and setting a fast pace before taking the lead and winning by 2 3/4 lengths.

Next is a 6 1/2-eighths mile long $80,000 exemption at Santa Anita. Pilot Commander faces some capable rivals, including his Dwyer (G3)-winning stablemate Fort Bragg, but a repeat of his last run should be enough for Pilot Commander to record a second win in a row.