Bokeelia Island tries again in Sunday allowance
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The overall quality of racing at Keeneland tends to correspond to when a given card is held.
The earlier in the meet, the more likely a program is to be packed with stakes and allowances. At the very least, there’s usually a stakes-caliber allowance somewhere on one of those early cards.
The reverse generally holds true for the final few cards of a meet, which helps to explain why only a pair of $62,000, first-level turf allowances are the highlights of a nine-race Sunday card otherwise filled with maiden and/or claiming races.
The better of the two allowances appears to be race 7. It’s for older horses at 1 1/2 miles and has a trio of closely matched favorites in Bokeelia Island, Circus Performer, and Good Response, all from powerhouse East Coast stables.
About an hour earlier, race 5 figures to have Walking the Kitten as the horse to beat among a field of older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles. The 4-year-old Kitten’s Joy filly comes favorably drawn on the hedge after having two useful races at Fair Grounds last month for her owners and breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
Sunday is Military Appreciation Day, which Keeneland hosts once every meet. Active and retired men and women with the U.S. armed services are given free admission and daylong tributes for the vital roles they serve.
After Sunday, Keeneland goes dark before the final three-day stretch of this 16-day spring meet commences Wednesday. The only remaining stakes is the Grade 3 Bewitch on Friday, closing day. First post daily is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.
Churchill Downs opens its spring meet next Saturday, April 30, with a Downs After Dark program.
Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Bokeelia Island, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-81
◗ Phipps Stable homebred trained by Shug McGaughey was a late-running fourth with a spot of traffic when the lukewarm favorite for this same condition on opening day of the meet.
Circus Performer, by Dynaformer
Last 3 Beyers: 82-83-69
◗ Todd Pletcher-trained colt was a decent seventh in the same April 8 race in which Bokeelia Island was fourth and now stands to move up when making the third start in his form cycle.
Good Response, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-87
◗ Layoff of six months poses a question for a Kiaran McLaughlin-trained 5-year-old who perennially shows a terrific kick but has tended to come up just a bit short with those rallies.