Horses to Watch: 4 juveniles go for glory at Del Mar, Gulfstream
Bentornato is 2-for-2 so far, showing plenty of promise at Gulfstream Park. After beating a couple of next-out winners in a five-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds, Bentornato stepped up against non-state-restricted competition for the six-furlong Proud Man and romped by 4 1/4 lengths.
With improving Brisnet speed ratings of 91 and 95 under his belt, Bentornato is easily the fastest horse entered in Saturday’s eighth race at Gulfstream Park, the FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager (post time 4:18 p.m. EDT). The six-furlong sprint for Florida-breds appears ripe for conquest by Bentornato.
Bolden
Bolden doesn’t race often, but when he does, he’s brilliant. He won his debut in June 2020 at Santa Anita, came back two years later to crush back-to-back $20,000 allowance optional claimers, and is now returning from a 15-month layoff for Sunday’s ninth race at Del Mar, a $40,000 allowance optional claimer (post time 8:29 p.m.).
Bolden is racing outside of the California-bred ranks for the first time, but he fits well from a Brisnet speed rating standpoint and enters off fast workouts. If Bolden brings his A-game, he can vie for victory under hot jockey Flavien Prat.
Endlessly
Endlessly impressed when debuting in a one-mile maiden special weight over the Del Mar turf. He lacked racing room down the homestretch, but found a seam close to home and exploded through to win by 2 1/4 lengths. He’s a logical win threat while sticking to the same course and distance for Sunday’s seventh race at Del Mar, the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3, post time 7:29 p.m.).
Prince of Monaco
Prince of Monaco is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts, smashing a five-furlong maiden special weight by eight lengths before crushing the six-furlong Best Pal (G3) by 4 1/4 lengths with a powerful 102 Brisnet Speed rating. The Bob Baffert trainee figures to be a heavy favorite in Sunday’s 10th race at Del Mar, the Del Mar Futurity (G1, post time 8:59 p.m.).
Tamara
A beautifully bred daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro out of four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder, Tamara impressed in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Aug. 19 at Del Mar, finishing strongly from just off the pace to win by 2 1/4 lengths with a flashy 91 Brisnet Speed rating.
Tamara is wheeling back on just three weeks of rest for Saturday’s 10th race at Del Mar, the Del Mar Debutante (G1, post time 9:00 p.m., but she posted a bullet three-furlong workout in 34.8 seconds on Sept. 4 at Del Mar and should be ready for a strong showing under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Worth another try
Pirate
Dropped back to eighth place during the early stages of the Hopeful, then rallied steadily down the homestretch to finish third, only a neck behind Timberlake. Pirate was stepping up in class and distance off a debut win sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, so the son of Omaha Beach still has upside for improvement with experience. Stretching out in distance may also help Pirate; remember, he’s a half-brother to 2023 Preakness winner National Treasure.
Timberlake
Stepped up in class for the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga and ran a game race in defeat. After rating behind quick fractions of 22.19 and 44.89 seconds in fourth place, Timberlake rallied to lead inside the eighth pole, only to falter late and finish second by 1 1/2 lengths against the deep-closing long shot Nutella Fella. Timberlake raced closer to the strong pace than any of the other superfecta finishers, so I’ll view his performance in a positive light.
Off the watch list
Gold Sweep
The runaway Tremont winner failed to run to his odds in the Hopeful, finishing sixth by 5 1/2 lengths. He did encounter traffic trouble down the homestretch, but after losing two straight graded stakes at Saratoga, I’ll want to see Gold Sweep step forward with a stronger effort before supporting him again.
Which horses do you have your eyes on?
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.
