These 15 involve Ky. Derby hopefuls

In this biweekly sequence,
racing analyst J. Keeler Johnson shares promising horses from his handicapping
watch listing, examining runners who lately caught his eye and previewing horses
scheduled to run again in the in close proximity to potential.

Upcoming entries

Agate Street

Quality
2 Pilgrim winner Agate Highway obtained a inadequate speed setup when second in the Dania
Seaside at Gulfstream Park last month. If he encounters a quicker tempo in Saturday’s
11th race at Gulfstream, the Kitten’s Pleasure (G3) at 5:08 p.m. EST, Agate Highway can
rally to the winner’s circle.

Alva Starr

Alva
Starr has not missed the exacta in 6 commences, most notably crushing the
Prioress (G2) at Saratoga by 8 3/4 lengths. She owns sturdy Brisnet Velocity Scores
and is the even-money, morning-line preferred to kick off her 4-year-aged period
on a successful notice in Saturday’s 10th race at Oaklawn, the American Elegance at
5:14 p.m. EST.

Bentornato

Bentornato
completed third in the 1 1/16-mile Florida Sire In Truth past time out, but
he’s 4-for-4 sprinting at Gulfstream Park and need to recognize cutting back to
seven furlongs for Saturday’s ninth race there. The Swale is scheduled for 4:08
p.m. EST.

Carbone

Carbone
has wired his to start with two commences by daylight margins, including a one-mile
$80,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn. The Steve Asmussen trainee is a
crucial earn risk even though signing up for the street to the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s 11th
race at Oaklawn, the Southwest (G3) at 5:50 p.m. EST.

Coach Prime

Coach
Key suffered a vast excursion when rallying to finish third by 1 length in the
Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) past time out. If he’s ready to save much more floor
even though dropping blinkers in Saturday’s fifth race at Santa Anita, the Robert B.
Lewis (G3) at 5:15 p.m. EST, he can operate an improved race.

Fierceness

Fierceness
was tons the ideal in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile past tumble, beating a strong
discipline by 6 1/4 lengths. He’ll kick off his 3-calendar year-old campaign in Saturday’s
12th race at Gulfstream, the Holy Bull (G3) at 5:45 p.m. EST and will be hard
to conquer if he runs to his recent sharp exercises.

Irish Aces

Solid
finishing fractions created it complicated for Irish Aces to catch up following a
stumbling start off in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream, but he even so
rocketed his remaining 5-sixteenths of a mile in about 27.75 seconds to rally
wide and finish next by a neck. A better setup in Saturday’s 10th race at
Tampa Bay Downs, the Tampa Bay (G3) at 4:50 p.m. EST, can assist Irish Aces
outrun his 6-1 morning-line odds.

Kinza

Kinza
was tons the greatest when debuting in a 6-furlong maiden particular weight at Santa
Anita, vying for the early direct right before drawing off to earn by 7 1/2 lengths. The
Bob Baffert-educated filly is a formidable win threat though stepping up in class
for Sunday’s seventh race at Santa Anita, the Las Virgenes (G3) at 6:30 p.m.
EST.

Macanga

Macanga
was a great deal the best in a just one-mile, maiden special pounds above the Gulfstream
grass study course, leading all the way and ending immediately to beat a following-out
winner by 2 1/2 lengths. She’s a reasonable win menace though stepping into the
stakes ranks for Saturday’s eighth race at Gulfstream Park, the Sweetest Chant
(G3) at 3:38 p.m. EST.

Mystik Dan

I’m
not guaranteed Mystik Dan will relish the 1 1/16-mile length of the Southwest, but
the son of Goldencents has proven flashes of expertise, and he was not badly beaten
when fifth in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn past thirty day period. Do not be stunned if
Mystik Dan outruns his 12-1 morning-line odds.

Nothing at all Like You

Practically nothing
Like You has gained 3 straight races for Baffert, which include the Desi Arnaz and
Starlet (G2). She’ll have each individual chance to hold her win streak alive even though
kicking off her 3-12 months-outdated time in the Las Virgenes, wherever stablemate Kinza
looms as her most important challenger.

Nysos

Nysos
obliterated the competition in his 1st two commences, which includes the Bob Hope
(G3), by the merged margin of 19 1/4 lengths. He’s adaptable in conditions of
running style and has the pedigree to stretch out around 1 mile in the Robert
B. Lewis, so beating Nysos is heading to be mighty rough.

Skelly

Skelly
has led from start off to finish in 6 consecutive races, which includes five at
Oaklawn. Very last year’s Depend Fleet Dash Handicap (G3) hero just lately finished a
layoff with victory in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn, environment
the stage for another profitable effectiveness in Saturday’s eighth race there. The King
Cotton starts off at 4:04 p.m. EST.

Touchuponastar

Touchuponastar
is 10-for-13 life span and 4-for-4 at Delta Downs, exactly where he defeat open up firm in
the Delta Mile previous tumble. The proficient 5-yr-old gelding can deliver his Delta
file to 5-for-5 when experiencing fellow Louisiana-breds in Saturday’s sixth race
at Delta Downs, the Louisiana Bred Premier Championship at 8:43 p.m. EST.

Vote No

Vote
No is 2-for-2 on Tapeta and impressed when rallying to a 5 1/4-size victory
in the 6 1/2-furlong Turfway Prevue at Turfway Park previous thirty day period. He placed 3rd
in Keeneland’s 1 1/16-mile Bourbon (G2) very last slide and need to be challenging although
stretching out in excess of just one mile for Friday’s sixth race at Turfway, the Leonatus at
8:25 p.m. EST.

Well worth a further consider

Runaway Satisfied

Runaway
Delighted was tons the greatest when debuting in a 6-furlong, maiden unique pounds
on Dec. 30 at Mahoning Valley, top all the way to acquire by 21 lengths. But
she did not post any timed exercises in January and might have been shorter of her
most effective when returning in a 6-furlong allowance on Thursday at Mahoning. That
was the place she set brief fractions of 22.97 and 46.71 seconds in advance of weakening
to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths as the 1-20 most loved. I’ll give the
3-12 months-outdated filly a opportunity to rebound following time.