Elkhorn Stakes preview
Keeneland
Race 9
1 1/2 Miles (Turf)
Elkhorn Stakes (Grade 3)
Four-year-olds and upward
Purse $200,000.
The Elkhorn looks like an excellent betting race with a full field of evenly-matched marathon specialists. Dynalympic showed an impressive turn of foot on the third turn of his recent 'N3X' allowance win over this course and distance, and is listed at 30-1 on the morning line. That race was Dynalympic's first try at the twelve-furlong distance, and the physically-imposing son of Dynaformer relished the added ground. He earned a competitive 95 Beyer Speed Figure with his win, and now goes second off the layoff for high-percentage trainer Tom Amoss. He'll get a class test for sure facing some salty veterans, but may be the right value play in a contentious race.
Go Deputy draws the far outside post, but projects as one of the favorites for Todd Pletcher. He placed in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup at 1 7/16 miles two back when forced to make a premature move into a soft pace, but was the beaten favorite in his next start, the Grade 3 Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream. Go Deputy didn't gallop out with much gusto after the Pan American, but there's no denying his quality, and he should be running hard late.
Dreadnaught finished an even fourth when defending his W L McKnight title in his final start of 2005. He gets a huge rider switch for the Elkhorn, and he is capable of a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure on his best day.
Watershed Event is perfect over the Keeneland turf course, and he looked good winning a recent conditioned allowance over the battle-tested Perfect Drift over this course. The extra distance is a bit of question mark, but his tactical speed should have him close to a moderate pace.
Grade 1 winner Pellegrino seemed off form in 2005, and hasn't been out since December.
Ramazutti almost stole the Pan American for Pletcher at 31-1, and may control soft splits.
Ten-year-old Rochester has always run well over this course while Silverfoot was a Grade 3 winner in 2005. Both must deal with layoffs, however.
Selections
1. Dynalympic
2. Go Deputy
3. Dreadnaught