A fresh beginning for Starting Over
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A trio of allowances dot a nine-race Sunday card at Keeneland, where a front-loaded spring meet already is nearing its midway point.
Sunday marks the seventh of 15 dates, and with so many major races having been run during the first six days, the stakes cupboard is getting close to empty. Only three of 18 stakes remain at a meet that runs through April 23, those being the Grade 3 Doubledogdare next Friday, the Grade 2 Elkhorn next Saturday, and the Grade 3 Bewitch on closing day.
Here’s a quick look at the Sunday co-features:
Race 5: Luis Saez, who led the local jockey standings through the first four days by winning with 12 of 28 mounts, gets the call from trainer Bill Morey on Noren, a 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding who maintained sharp form all winter at Turfway Park. Noren figures as a lukewarm favorite in a field of just five in this $83,000, second-level race going seven furlongs.
Among the opposition is Dean Martini, winner of the Ohio Derby last June, and Get the Prize, a last-out winner over the Fair Grounds slop following an eight-month-plus layoff. Also, Banks Island returns for Godolphin as a first-time gelding following a 10-month layoff.
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Race 7: Starting Over, with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, will make his first start in the care of Chad Brown as part of an oversubscribed field of older horses in this $81,000, first-level race going 1 1/8 miles on turf. Other logical contenders in a race limited to 10 starters include Cibolian, Glynn County, and Juulstone.
Sunday marks the last scheduled day for Ortiz to ride at this meet. The three-time reigning Eclipse champion began Wednesday and rode the entire week here. He’ll return to New York, then resurface at Churchill Downs as Kentucky Derby weekend approaches.
Race 8: Club Car leaves the stakes ranks with a solid chance to get through a third-level allowance condition when facing five other fillies and mares in this $85,000, six-furlong dash. Corey Lanerie has the call from trainer Ben Colebrook on Club Car, a consistent 5-year-old mare who most recently was third in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park.
First post Sunday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the local forecast calling for mostly sunny skies and a high of 66.
After Sunday, Keeneland goes dark for two days before action resumes Wednesday with an eight-race card.