Kris S. winner UP AN OCTAVE (Brahms) is the likely favorite for Thursday’s
$100,000 Forerunner S. at Keeneland. The Todd Pletcher trainee has yet to finish
off the board in three turf starts, the last being a close second as the
favorite in the nine-furlong Palm Beach S. (G3) on March 12 at Gulfstream Park.
John Velazquez rides.
Up an Octave will face seven rivals in the grassy 1 1/8-mile Forerunner,
including WISE RIVER (Belong to Me), who was a closing fourth in the Hallandale
Beach S. at Gulfstream Park after finishing second to Barbaro (Dynaformer) in
the Tropical Park Derby (G3). The Joan Scott-trained colt gets a rider change to
Rafael Bejarano.
The field, in post position order with jockeys, consists of TAHOE WARRIOR
(Carson City), Edgar Prado; ACT OF GOD (Black Minnaloushe), Brice Blanc; RED
ZONE (Red Ransom), Willie Martinez; IN A FLASH (Ire) (Night Shift), Julien
Leparoux; Up an Octave; OUR DANCER (Royal Academy), Brian Hernandez Jr.; Wise
River; and YATE’S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe), Rene Douglas.
Up an Octave will carry top weight of 123 pounds, the rest will shoulder 117.