Bewitch a hard puzzle to solve
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The curtain comes down Friday on another eventful meet at Keeneland, but not before one more difficult handicapping puzzle is offered up to horseplayers.
The closing-day feature of the 16-day spring meet, the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes, is one of those head-scratchers that could end up any number of ways, with more than half of the 12-horse field appearing fully capable of prevailing.
Olorda, from the powerhouse Chad Brown stable, figures as one of the lukewarm choices off a victory in her last start, but the 4-year-old German-bred could face serious challenges from the likes of Button Down and Personal Diary in this 1 1/2-mile grass fixture for fillies and mares.
The $150,000 Bewitch is the highlight of an afternoon that will become newsworthy even before the first race is run: Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist is scheduled to breeze in company at 12:15 p.m. Eastern, or 50 minutes before a 10-race program begins. The Bewitch goes at 5:30 as race 9.
Graham Motion won the last three runnings of the Bewitch with Strathnaver (2013), Inimitable Romanee (2014), and Kitten’s Point (2015).
Bewitch, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Olorda, by Lord of England
Last 3 Beyers: 92-83-93
◗ After disappointments in three straight Grade 1 races to open her North American racing career, this 4-year-old filly led all the way when Brown dropped her into Grade 3 company in the March 5 The Very One at Gulfstream Park.
Button Down, by Oasis Dream
Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-98
◗ Winner of the Grade 3 Cardinal as the favorite last fall at Churchill, she was no factor in a strangely run Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa in her return to action last month but figures to benefit from that needed outing.
Personal Diary, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 87-87-80
◗ The lone Grade 1 winner (2014 Del Mar Oaks) in the lineup showed her grit in winning an allowance prep over the local course and should actually relish the extra distance of this race.
Miss Chatelaine, by Pulpit
Last 3 Beyers: 87-93-77
◗ Chestnut 4-year-old with ample stakes experience comes off the shelf with plenty of preparation at Payson Park for noted turf master Christophe Clement.
Songoficeandfire, by Dynaformer
Last 3 Beyers: 92-86-85
◗ Bill Mott-trained mare had two solid races at Gulfstream this winter and stands to make her presence known in the third race of her form cycle.
Generosidade, by Nedawi
Last 3 Beyers: 93-97-82
◗ Intriguing 7-year-old from the Southern California circuit validated her 71-1 stunner in the San Luis Rey by running second in the San Juan Capistrano, both against male opponents.