Dan Illman

Despite a layoff of almost five months, WISE DAN was rightly considered the horse to beat in last Sunday's Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland.  After all, the versatile son of Wiseman's Ferry stamped himself as one of the top older horses in the country last year with a victory in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 25. Although he was expected to run very well, I highly doubt that anyone thought he would earn the fastest Beyer Speed Figure ever recorded on a synthetic surface.  He did.

Let's take a look at this weekend's graded stakes races: *** *Some quick-and-dirty tablesetters: *Jerome Stakes:  TERM LOAN, THE LUMBER GUY, STIRRED UP *Lexington Stakes:  NEWS PENDING, JOHANNESBOURBON, MORGAN'S GUERRILLA *San Simeon Handicap:  AIN'T NO OTHER, COMPARI, IRISH ART *** SIXTY SAILS HANDICAP - HAWTHORNE - RACE 9:

Friday's HandiGambling 279 exercise is the ninth race at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Hillard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the polytrack racing surface. REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE HANDIGAMBLING EXERCISE; PLEASE CONTACT FORMBLOG@DRF.COM WITH YOUR DRF LOGIN AND PASSWORD IN ORDER TO ACCESS YOUR PRIZE PACKAGE.

Two 3-year-old colts received triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures last week. 

We're getting down to the nitty and the gritty as it pertains to Kentucky Derby prep races.  Not to be overlooked, however, are some other excellent graded stakes races.  Here are some opinions: JENNY WILEY STAKES - KEENELAND - R8: