Keeneland: DRF Plus handicapping report for April 16, 2014
Keeneland: DRF Plus handicapping report for April 16, 2014
DRF StaffApr 15, 2014
Keeneland: DRF Plus handicapping report for April 16, 2014
Keeneland: Closer Looks for April 16, 2014
Aqueduct: DRF Plus handicapping report for April 16, 2014
Aqueduct: Closer Looks for April 16, 2014
Similarly to Friday, when all seven dirt winners were no worse than second at any point of call, early speed was a prerequisite for success in Saturday’s six dirt races, all of which were one-turn events no longer than 7 1/2 furlongs.
Trip Notes for April 12-13: Jenny Wiley, Blue Grass, Oaklawn Handicap, Arkansas Derby and more by Michael Hammersly.
In a “do or die” Kentucky Derby qualifying race for seven of the eight starters, the Todd Pletcher-trained Danza skimmed the rail coming out of the final turn to post a 41-1 upset over Ride On Curlin.
On Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack racing surface, which favored stretch-runners all day, a pair of 6-1 shots - Dance With Fate and Medal Count - successfully used that running style to earn tickets to the Kentucky Derby.
Perhaps it was because of cooler 70-degree temperature Saturday, but the racing surface was different from early in the week. The times were slightly slower, and on Saturday the track was fair to all running styles (every dirt race was a sprint).
Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm nicely summed up Saturday’s results at Keeneland – and how racing is typically won on a synthetic surface like Polytrack – tweeting late Saturday afternoon, “Dirt horses don't like the poly. Turf horses don't like the poly. Poly horses like the poly!”