Good cast of 3-year-olds in Friday allowance

Field size averages barely more than six horses per race during the first half of a 10-race Friday program at Keeneland, but things pick up after that. Besides the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes, the latter portion of the card also includes a remarkably deep first-level allowance for 3-year-olds (race 7).

The $60,000, six-furlong race matches a field of 11 that drew a handful of flashy maiden winners in their last starts, including Data Driven for Chad Brown, First Spark (Pletcher), Harvey (Bret Calhoun), and Chief Istan (Larry Jones).

◗ Fans can get autographs from Keeneland jockeys during a one-hour session in the paddock before the Friday races, starting at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Proceeds benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

◗ The fifth annual “It’s My Derby” event, sponsored by the Kentucky Derby Museum and hosted by D. Wayne Lukas, is set for immediately after the races in the Keeneland sales pavilion.