Bim Bam tries to extend winning streak to four in Wednesday feature
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A quick read of the conditions of the Wednesday feature at Keeneland might not be enough to fully comprehend how Bim Bam remains eligible for the $64,000 allowance.
After all, Bim Bam is a winner of his last three races, including turf stakes at Mountaineer and Remington. Yet he’ll be in the starting gate because the race is open to “horses that have not won two races ‘other than’ … over a mile on the turf in 2013-2014.”
Two of Bim Bam’s wins have come at exactly a mile on turf.
“I love the word ‘over,’ ” quipped trainer Ron Moquett.
Still, Bim Bam is no standout in an oversubscribed race that helps kick off the final four-day stretch of the 17-day fall meet. Hammers Terror, Free World, and Edge of Reality are other likely favorites in the seventh race, which is scheduled for a mile on the turf.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Free World. Trainer Tom Amoss is 6-0-0-0 over the last five years in Keeneland turf routes with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“There are some really nice horses in this spot,” Moquett acknowledged.
First post for the eight-race card is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 4:11. One other allowance (race 6) is on tap.
Just one stakes race remains at the meet: the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette on the closing-day card Saturday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Hammers Terror (Last 3 Beyers: 92-79-79)
◗ An off-the-shelf romp on the Woodbine turf suggests Hammers Terror may be back with a new attitude since coming under the care of Brian Lynch, who is enjoying the best season earnings-wise ($3.7 million) of his 20-plus years as a trainer. The 5-year-old was bred for turf and has a very useful stalking style, and he draws favorably.
Bim Bam (Last 3 Beyers: 90-84-89)
◗ Moquett kept running him against some real heavy-heads, and finally this 7-year-old settled into a win pattern when given slight class relief in ungraded stakes and these high-end allowances. Moquett has been looking for just the right niche when putting his streak on the line.
Free World (Last 3 Beyers: 103-42-91)
◗ This hot-and-cold colt obviously can freak when things go his way, such as in that latest win at Churchill Downs. It is difficult to say whether he can go solo out front in this, although trainer Tom Amoss has claimed the colt is willing to rate if needed.
Edge of Reality (Last 3 Beyers: 92-N/A-94)
◗ His last-out stakes victory versus Pennsylvania-breds on the Pennsylvania Derby undercard came in style, and his career bankroll shows he’s a highly productive racehorse when properly spotted. He and Irad Ortiz Jr. must overcome a tricky post.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 11 Edge of Reality. Trainer Graham Motion is 30-7-5-5 with a $3.78 ROI over the past five years in Keeneland turf routes with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Joha. Trainer Mike Maker is 36-11-1-3 with a $2.90 ROI over the past year going from synthetic to turf in routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan