In this biweekly series, racing analyst Keeler Johnson highlights promising horses from his watch list, reviewing recent performances and previewing future contenders.
Del Mar, Race 3:
Iron Man Cal showed significant improvement in his second start after finishing fourth in his five-furlong turf debut at Del Mar. In Saturday’s one-mile maiden special weight, the Phil D’Amato-trained juvenile sat a few lengths off the pace before closing with a blistering final furlong in 11.46 seconds, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:36.05. His powerful finishing kick suggests he’s a strong contender for the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita next month.
Del Mar, Race 4:
Nooni, previously unbeaten and the winner of the Sorrento Stakes (G3), disappointed as the 4-5 favourite in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), finishing fifth by 10 1/2 lengths. After duelling through early fractions of 21.50 and 44.38 seconds, she and the other early leaders faded by the finish. Nooni remains worth following for her next start.
Kentucky Downs, Race 7:
Cogburn secured a spot on the watch list with a dominant victory in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2), making it three wins from three starts this year. The 4-year-old flashed early speed, leading through fractions of 21.82 and 44.14 seconds, and then powered away to defeat two-time Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) winner Khaadem by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:07.68. An impressive performance.
Del Mar, Race 9:
Didia, the 7-10 favourite in the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2), finished a lacklustre fourth, missing the trifecta for the second consecutive start. As a result, she’ll be dropped from the watch list.
Del Mar, Race 10:
Returning from an eight-month layoff, Pilot Commander delivered a solid performance in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claimer. After tracking an opening quarter in 21.46 seconds and battling through a half-mile in 43.96 seconds, he finished second by three-quarters of a length to stretch-running graded stakes winner Red Flag. With a slightly different pace setup, Pilot Commander might have won, making him a horse to watch in future races.
Sunday
Del Mar, Race 6:
Trainer John Shirreffs rarely wins with first-time starters, going just 5-for-101 with such runners since 2020. However, when he does, those horses often develop into stars, such as La Brea Stakes (G1) heroine Hard Not to Love and Desi Arnaz Stakes winner Justique. This makes Momad, a first-time starter from the Shirreffs barn, particularly intriguing. The 4-year-old gelding, a son of Nyquist, rallied from sixth to win a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar by one length in 1:09.83. With this strong debut, Momad could be headed for stakes company soon.
Del Mar, Race 10:
As anticipated, four of my watch list horses swept the superfecta in the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Gaming, a son of 2018 champion 2-year-old Game Winner, led the pack. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gaming settled in fifth early, made a bold move up the rail, and then powered outside to take command, winning by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:23.02, bringing his record to 2-for-2. McKinzie Street finished second, four lengths clear of the rest, making him a contender to watch. Citizen Bull finished third and may improve with time, while Getaway Car, the previously unbeaten Best Pal (G3) winner, faded to fourth after setting fast fractions. A slower pace might suit Getaway Car better in future races.