KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2006
by Brian P. Turner
A pair of stakes highlighted Saturday’s card at Keeneland with the feature
coming in the 9TH race as a field of 10 three-year-olds went to the gate for the
Lexington S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. SHOWING UP (Strategic
Mission) was sent to the gate by the betting public as the 3-2 favorite despite
the fact that he was making his first try in stakes company. Though he was a
perfect two for two in his brief career, the talented young chestnut faced a
true test in this spot and he came through it with flying colors.
After laying some four lengths off the pace through early fractions that went
in :23 1/5 and :46 4/5, the colt moved into contention at the top of the stretch
and rewarded the chalk players by fighting gamely to the wire for a 1 1/4-length
victory.
Like Now (Jules) had the misfortune of getting caught in a duel on the front
end with Fast Parade (Delineator) but still continued on gamely to cross the
finish line in second, a neck in front of longshot Bear Character (Dixie Union)
in third.
The two top finishers both have the graded stakes earnings needed to make it
into the starting gate for the first Saturday in May if their connections decide
to pursue it.
Also on Saturday, a field of 12 fillies and mares, three-years-old and
upward, went to the post for the Giant’s Causeway S. over 5 1/2 furlongs on the
lawn. Bright Gold (Hold For Gold) was sent to the gate as the lukewarm 3-1
favorite, but, after laying well off the pace early, the six-year-old mare was
not able to make up the ground needed through the stretch drive and finished
second by three parts of a length.
In the end, the day belonged to GILDED GOLD (Gilded Time) who stalked the
early pace before taking over the lead approaching the stretch and digging in
gamely for the narrow victory. The dark bay was making her first start since
last November when she captured a listed stakes race at Laurel Park, but she
returned to racing full of run and looked impressive in victory.
Ebony Breeze (Belong To Me) ran evenly throughout and finished another 1 3/4
lengths back in third.
The main track at Keeneland began the day muddy but was upgraded to fast
midway through the card. The change in conditions did little to alter the way
the track played. From five sprints races, horses on or near the pace won four
times, and the other was taken by a runner closing from just off the pace. In
addition to the Lexington, there was one additional main track route on the day
and it was captured by a horse closely stalking the pace. In addition to the
Giant’s Causeway, there were two additional routes contested on the lawn today
and horses closing from off the pace won both.
In the trainer standings, Todd Pletcher saddled a winner Saturday to move
back into a tie for the top spot with Nick Zito. The duo has 10 winners each.
Dale Romans went winless on the day but remains in third with eight.
Julien Leparoux booted home two winners on the day to take sole possession of
the lead in the jockey standings over the sidelined John Velazquez. The score
currently stands at 14 to 12. Shaun Bridgmohan went winless but remains in third
with 11.
Horses to Watch
2ND – HE’S GONE WEST (Gone West) broke well from the gate and had the lead by
the time he reached the half, which he covered in :46 1/5. From there, the race
was over as the chestnut widened his advantage to hit the finish line 6 1/2
lengths in front under nothing but a solid hand ride. The colt appears to be in
good form and could be a threat to clear his first allowance condition in his
next start.
5TH – KEYS (Sefapiano) has been far from impressive throughout the course of
her career but appears to have found her calling on the grass. The bay rallied
from dead last in this eight furlong allowance event, closing with a nice turn
of foot through the stretch to hit the finish line a neck in front.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Sunday, April 23
A field of nine three-year-old fillies, including one coupled entry, is
scheduled to go to the gate for the Appalachian S., which will be contested at
eight furlongs on the lawn. Pletcher will be sending out the uncoupled entry of
J’RAY (Distant View) and DYNA’S DESTINY (Dynaformer), and either of these
talented young fillies appears to be capable of pulling off the victory. J’Ray
is a perfect four for four on the grass, including a win in the Jessamine County
S. here last October. Though the chestnut will be making her first start since
January when she took the Tropical Park Oaks by a length, Pletcher wins 29
percent of his starts off layoffs of more than 90 days.
Dyna’s Destiny is not quite as accomplished, but she is coming off a hard
fought three parts of a length victory in the Gaily Gaily S. at Gulfstream. The
bay also has a start at Keeneland, falling 1 3/4 lengths short to her stablemate
in the Jessamine County.
AUNT HENNY (Hennessy) is coming off of an impressive score in the Here Comes
The Bride S. (G3) where she stalked the pace early and held on gamely to the end
to hit the finish line a half length in front. The chestnut is a definite threat
on or near the lead.
Sunday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 72.
Sunday’s Best Plays
6TH – MY TALE (Tale Of The Cat) made her first try on the lawn a solid one as
she overcame a bit of a troubled trip to finish second in an allowance event
here on April 7. The bay posted a 94 BRIS Speed rating in that event, the best
number run on the grass by any member of the field. The filly has a solid
pedigree for the lawn and her dam, La Cumbre (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), has produced
two turf winners from four starters. At 8-1 on the morning line, My Tale
definitely offers a bit of value.
8TH – J’Ray has done nothing wrong on the lawn and there is no reason she
shouldn’t be able to continue that winning streak here.