KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
by Brian P. Turner
The highlight of Keeneland’s opening day was the Transylvania S. (G3) for
three-year-olds going eight furlongs on the grass. The Bobby Frankel-trained To
Sender (GB) (King’s Best) was sent off by the betting public as the overwhelming
favorite off of his perfect two-for-two record since arriving in North America
and the buzz that had heralded his arrival from Europe.
In A Flash (Ire) (Night Shift) bounded out of the gate and onto the lead with
To Sender in close pursuit as the pair led the field through early opening
fractions of :22 1/5 and :46. It was at this point, though, that To Sender began
to falter, failing to live up to the hype that surrounded him, and finished
last. In A Flash continued on gamely but eventually he too gave way, leaving it
anyone’s race as the field made their way down the stretch.
In the end, it was the Neil Pessin-trained CHIN HIGH (Smart Strike) who
pulled off the absolute shocker by rallying from well off the pace, with a nice
closing turn of foot late to hit the finish line a length in front and lighting
up the boards with a $139 payoff. In his previous start, the bay had broken his
maiden at Evangeline Downs and appeared to be well over his head here. Someone
obviously forgot to inform Chin High of this fact as he was extremely
impressive in victory.
Le Plaix (Fr) (Kingsalsa) was a bit closer to the pace throughout and made a
nice closing move himself through the stretch, but could not hold off the winner
and was forced to settle for second at odds of just over 24-1. It was another
half-length back to Wherethewestbegins (Gone West) in third.
There were four sprints on the main track Friday and horses on the lead won
three of them. As for the two main track routes, one was won in front-running
fashion and the other by a runner coming from off the pace. In addition to the
feature, there were two other turf races on the day both of which, surprisingly,
were won by front runners.
Nick Zito took the early lead in the trainer standings by saddling two
winners today and seven other trainers, including Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans
and Dallas Stewart, had one winner each. As for the jockeys, Javier Castellano
booted home two winners on the day to give him the early advantage in the jockey
standings while John Velazquez, Rafael Bejarano and five others visited the
winner’s circle once.
Horses to Watch
1ST – ONE GOOD YANK (Yankee Victor) had an impressive career debut for
trainer Dale Romans. The two-year-old colt quickly took the lead after leaving
the gate and guided the field through opening fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 3/5.
The dark bay went on to hit the finish line 4 1/2 lengths in front without ever
being asked for his very best.
5TH – FIERY DANCER (Atticus) made her second try on the lawn a winning one in
this nine-furlong allowance event. The chestnut went to the lead early in an
attempt to do what very few runners are able to accomplish here at Keeneland and
that is to lead the field from gate to finish. The three-year-old filly guided
the field through early fractions of :23 3/5 and :48 3/5 under a masterful ride
by Javier Castellano and held off all challengers through the stretch drive to
hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Saturday, April 8
A field of eight three-year-old fillies has been entered for Saturday’s
feature, the 1 1/16-mile Ashland S. (G1). The David Hofmans-trained BALANCE
(Thunder Gulch) has been named the 6-5 morning-line favorite and with good
reason as she has looked great in both of her starts this year. After taking the
Las Virgenes S. (G1) by a length in February, the bay returned in March to rally
from 5 1/2 lengths off a very slow early pace for an easy two-length score in
the Santa Anita Oaks (G1).
Standing in her way will be the Pletcher-trained WAIT A WHILE (Maria’s Mon),
who started the year off with a bang by romping through the slop for an
impressive 14-length victory in the Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. In
her next start though, the gray disappointed chalk players everywhere as she
finished a well-beaten third in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2). The connections
obviously feel that she is ready for a top effort and she should prove to
be a force to contend with should the top choice falter. ITTY BITTY PRETTY (El
Corredor) is another among the field that could prove dangerous. The bay began
the year with a solid six-length score in the Santa Ysabel S. (G3) and followed
that up with a respectable third-place effort behind Balance in the Las Virgenes.
Any improvement at all makes her a definite threat.
For those looking for a price, BUSHFIRE (Louis Quatorze) could offer a bit of
value. After fading badly in the aforementioned Davona Dale, the bay returned
with a nice effort in the Florida Oaks where she crossed the finish line three
parts of a length in front. Bushfire appears to be the speediest member of the
field and could prove to be a threat if allowed an easy lead.
Saturday’s forecast calls for morning showers giving way to partly cloudy
skies in the afternoon and a much cooler high of 50 degrees.
Saturday’s Best Plays
4TH – UNIQUE POSE (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) will be making her first start in
North America after finishing either first or second in five of her six starts
in Europe, which includes a second-place finish against Group 3 company. After
finishing a disappointing tenth against stakes-company last August at Cork, the
bay moved across the pond and into the barn of Christophe Clement where she has
been working steadily since the first of January. Clement, who wins with 25
percent of his runners in the “1st Start with Trainer” category, has added Lasix
for her American debut and enlisted the services of Victor Espinoza, a solid 21
percent turf jockey, for the ride.
9TH – Balance has looked impressive in each of her starts this year and is
versatile enough to be in contention in the stretch, regardless of the pace.
10TH – FORECOURT (Ire) (Fasliyev) has put in solid efforts in each of his
first two North American starts, finishing second by a neck and third by 1 1/4
lengths against the same level of competition he is facing today. The
four-year-old colt tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and his two BRIS Speed
Ratings since arriving here makes him a solid threat at generous morning-line
odds of 6-1. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin wins with 21 percent of his turf starters
and has been winning with 20 percent of his starters overall this year.
Forecourt has put in four sharp works since his last start and appears to be
sitting on a big one.