Brad Free's Horses to Watch for the week of April 2-5

MEMORY
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: April 2, 3rd
Finish: 1st by 3/4
Beyer: 93
Maiden 3yo by Uncle Mo ran super stretching out from seventh-place sprint debut. Inside speed, then third on rail, angled out, inched clear, fast time. Another top prospect from deep stable.

ZIHNAL
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas
Last race: April 2, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 88
Quality Road gelding debuted at one mile, ran well. Next to last early, inched closer backstretch, three-wide throughout, evenly late behind Memory. Solid debut, this race could be productive.

BUTTERFLY BEACH
Trainer: Neil Drysdale
Last race: April 2, 8th
Finish: 5th by 7 3/4
Beyer: 54
Longshot maiden-50 comebacker rated fourth on rail in turf sprint, shuffled slightly on turn, evenly late. ’Beach' still learning to harness her speed, worth following vs. similar at high odds.

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THE PADRE
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: April 3, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 91
First start in seven months and first vs. older, lightly raced 4-year-old ran well in allowance turf route. Raced midfield, finished well in slow-early/fast-late race. Solid comeback by Irish-bred.

DURAN
Trainer: Isidro Tamayo
Last race: April 3, 8th
Finish: 7th by 12 1/2
Beyer: 58
Nightmare trip in starter allowance/optional claiming dirt mile. Off slow, rank early, shuffled backstretch, surrendered. Claimed for $16k by Tamayo from George Papaprodromou, toss this.

MARJORAM
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: April 4, 1st
Finish: 5th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 63
Comeback filly went to her nose at start of allowance turf sprint, trailed by many, finished well, would have won with clean start. Well-bred filly broke slow both starts but has much ability.

DUKE SILVER
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: April 4, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 1
Beyer: 77
Second-start maiden broke step slow from rail, zoomed to lead, set fast pace, led by three lengths into lane, hit a wall late. With a clean start next time out, Silver State colt can be long gone.

VALIANT SON
Trainer: Blaine Wright
Last race: April 5, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 76
Off more than a year, gelding ran well in N3L claiming turf sprint. Midpack early, hard-held behind rivals on turn, finished well. Solid comeback by 5-year-old, who handles either surface.

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