The big races come later in the day Sunday at Keeneland, with the Bourbon and Spinster stakes, but it is the opening pick four that begins on Race 2 that has me most intrigued among the multirace wagers.
Short fields limit the options for the Sunday card, but a couple of competitive turf races late in the day present an opportunity for a pick three play (races 6-8).
A 2-year-old filly at Parx Racing tested positive for the equine herpesvirus on Friday, resulting in a quarantine of the barn area, according to director of racing Sam Elliott.
David Miller left The Meadows earlier than Aaron Merriman did on Friday afternoon and that made Friday night twice as nice for the Hall of Fame driver. Miller swept the Derbys at Dayton, scoring with 14-1 shot Il Sogno Dream in the $135,750 Trotting Derby and then came back with favorite State Treasurer to capture the $138,500 Pacing Derby in the very next race.
Three Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations for the aged pacing divisions will highlight the 14-race card slated for Saturday, October 3 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The elimination for the aged pacing mares division drew a field of 12 while 19 entered in the aged stallions and geldings elimination and will be contested through two divisions.
The weather precludes forming strong opinions on Keeneland’s Saturday card. Friday’s races were off turf, and if Saturday’s stay on – and I’m guessing they do – the going seems likely to be soft. Many horses won’t handle that, and with more rain in the forecast, the main track is likely sloppy again, further complicating matters.
Trainer Doug O’Neill, owner Paul Reddam, and jockey Mario Gutierrez were already Breeders’ Cup bound with a 2-year-old colt to run in the Juvenile after Nyquist won the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes last week at Santa Anita. Now they have a 2-year-old filly, Gomo, as part of the Breeders’ Cup mix, too.
Runhappy lived up to all the hype when overcoming a number of obstacles Friday in winning the 163rd running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Phoenix Stakes on a rainy opening day of the Keeneland fall meet.
Jockey Francisco Torres won his 3,000th race guiding Court’s Ruler to a nose victory in the third race Friday at Hawthorne.
Churchill Downs Inc. has completed a previously announced deal to acquire a one-quarter interest in the company that owns a harness track and casino in Saratoga, N.Y., CDI and the company announced on Friday.
