KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
by Brian P. Turner
A field of eight went to the post for Saturday’s featured Ashland S. (G1) for
three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The David Hofmans-trained Balance (Thunder Gulch) shipped in from the
West Coast to take on the
role of morning line and post time favorite. The bay was a perfect two-for-two
on the year against Grade 1 company and was looking to add to her already
impressive resume.
When the gate sprang open, BUSHFIRE (Louis Quatorze) bounded out onto the
early lead and guided the field through early fractions of :23 1/5 and :46 2/5
with the Todd Pletcher-trained Wait A While (Maria’s Mon) and Balance lying
third and fourth respectively. Both appeared that they were prepared to pounce
once the leader faltered. This never occurred though as Bushfire still had
plenty left in the tank once she hit the stretch and actually widened her lead
to hit the finish line 6 1/2 lengths in front, paying a generous $32.20 for the
effort. Wait A While crossed the wire in second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of
Balance in third.
All indications from trainer Eddie Kenneally after the race were that
Bushfire will indeed make her next start in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 5.
There were three sprints contested on the main track today with horses coming
from off the pace winning two of them. In addition to the feature, there were
two additional main track routes on the day, one of which was won by a front
runner and the other by a horse closing from off the pace. As for the four turf
routes, horses on or near the pace won three of them.
Nick Zito saddled three more winners on the day which gives him the early
lead with five winners through the first two days of the meet. Todd Pletcher
added a win on Saturday and currently sits in second with two winners thus far.
As for the jockeys, John Velazquez booted home two winners on the day and
Javier Castellano one, leaving the pair in a tie for the top spot in the
standings with three winners each. Julien Leparoux, Cornelio Velasquez, and
Shaun Bridgmohan are in a tie for second with two winners each.
Horses to Watch
1ST – STALWART MEMORY (Hennessy) reeled off his third victory in a row in this
$15,000 claiming event. The chestnut took the lead out of the gate and guided
the field through early opening fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 1/5 on his way to
an impressive 5 1/4-length victory. The five-year-old horse is in good form
right now and should prove to be a tough customer in his next start as well,
provided the connections don’t become too ambitious with his placement.
5TH – WILCOX RIDGE (Gone West) was extremely game in this eight-furlong turf
allowance event. The chestnut vied for the lead early over the yielding
Keeneland turf course through early fractions of :24 2/5 and :48 4/5 before
entering the stretch with a half-length lead. The rest of the field began making
a run at the pacesetter and several looked as if they were in position to pass
him, but the five-year-old horse fought gamely all the way to the wire to prevail
by a neck.
10TH – FORECOURT (Ire) was the victim of a horrible trip in this eight-furlong turf allowance. The bay was forced to steady on the backstretch but his
real trouble didn’t begin until he hit the stretch, where he was forced to alter
course several times as jockey Rene Douglas could never quite seem to figure out
where he wanted to go. By the time he was finally in the clear, the colt was
unable to make up much ground. A cleaner trip next time could yield better
results.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Sunday, April 9
A mere field of six is scheduled to go to the post for Sunday’s featured
Lafayette S. for three-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track. LAPTOP
COMPUTER (Notebook) has been installed as the morning line 9-5 favorite in this
wide-open event. In his lone previous try against stakes competition, the bay
finished seventh, beaten by 16 lengths, but rebounded off that effort with a solid
allowance score at Gulfstream Park. The colt’s best could definitely land him in
the winner’s circle.
FINAL COPY (Souvenir Copy) started out the year with a stakes win and has
performed respectably in two tries since. The dark bay has shown versatility in
his running style in the past which should serve him well here and allow jockey
John Velazquez to have him in contention in the stretch drive regardless of the
pace scenario that develops. SKELETON CREW (Elusive Quality) actually got the
better of Final Copy last out in the Hansel S. at Turfway Park and has shown the
kind of early speed often needed to be a factor at Keeneland.
Those looking for a price might consider LIKELY (Yes It’s True). The bay
broke his maiden last out at Turfway Park in his first career start and though
this will be a major step up in class, he is trained by Patrick Biancone who is
more than capable of pulling off just such a move.
Sunday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 60 degrees.
Sunday’s Best Plays
6TH – JUST A MACK (Langfuhr) is exiting a key race at Oaklawn Park where he
finished third as the favorite, beaten by only a length. The first and second-place finishers in that event each came back to win their next start. Trainer
Ronny Werner wins 23 percent of his starts in the “2nd Career Race” trainer
category and 27 percent of his starts in the “Beaten Favorite” category. The
chestnut tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and his lone BRIS Speed Rating
definitely labels him a threat.
7TH – SABATINI (Five Star Day) will be dropping into allowance level
competition after making her last three starts against graded stakes company. In
her most recent effort, the three-year-old filly suffered a bit of a troubled
trip and her jockey lost his whip on her way to coming up 1 3/4 lengths short in
the Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) at Turfway Park. The bay tops the field in
BRIS Prime Power and trainer Patrick Biancone wins 27 percent of the allowance
races he has runners in. Jockey Leparoux has combined with Biancone for a 35
percent win rate over the last 60 days, only adding to the list of things to
like.