Full-field trend continues following opening weekend

Big fields were the norm for the stakes-loaded opening weekend at Keeneland, and that remains the trend on Thursday. The 10-race card, which includes three allowance-level races plus a starter allowance and a maiden special weight, drew 102 entries plus 15 also-eligibles.

A trio of 3-year-olds who recently returned from long layoffs are among the standouts in the ninth race, a $69,000 turf allowance that serves as the day’s nominal feature. The race drew a full field of 14, plus two also-eligibles.

Marzo won a maiden race by 2 1/2 lengths on Sept. 3 at Ellis Park going a mile on the turf. It was his first try on turf, his first start of the year, and his first start for trainer Ben Colebrook. Corey Lanerie, who was aboard for the first time in that victory, retains the mount Thursday

Marzo, a Medaglia d’Oro gelding, is out of stakes winner Spring Party and is from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Awesome Humor, Constitution, and Emcee. That pedigree made him a $1 million purchase two years ago as a yearling.

Thunder Mesa is coming off a maiden special weight victory in June in his only start this year and first start for trainer Mike Maker. Tempestad won his debut in 2017 and then was third in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, but has not started since. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he makes a surface switch while stretching beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time.

Thursday’s eighth race, a $69,000 optional-claiming race for 2-year-olds going a mile, drew several well-bred juveniles who are exiting stakes company. Pole Setter, a Take Charge Indy colt out of Grade 1 winner Irish Smoke, was third in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and heads this field of 11. Manny Wah, a half-brother to Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee, and My Sixth Sense, a full brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason, were seventh and ninth in that race, and return on Thursday.

Meade, who is from the line of outstanding broodmares Supercharger and Get Lucky, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in August, while Lexitonian was sixth in the Grade 3 Sanford. Stage Left, a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou, was third in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth.