Hammersly: Keeneland pick five for Saturday, Oct. 21

Some deep, contentious races make Saturday’s pick five at Keeneland daunting. That said, a 3-year-old filly in a tough turf sprint could prove key, while spreading in the inscrutable Grade 2 Raven Run may snag you a price.

Race 6
MINEYEROWNMALONE (#9) looked super blasting much cheaper. He was claimed by Tom Amoss, who has superb off-the-claim numbers, and the multiple-level class hike is a great sign. WOODMANS LUCK (#4) remains a warrior at age 9, having won 13 times, including last time out. A slight bump in price is a thumbs-up. He ran second in his only prior start here. ZANDER ZONE (#11) had trouble and was no factor in a turf route at Churchill last time. He returns to dirt off the claim by Robertino Diodoro.

A’s) 4, 9
B’s) 11
C’s) None

Race 7
ELUSIVE TRUTH (#7) was a solid third in her debut at Churchill last month. She can improve with that outing under her belt, and that tactical speed can have her in the hunt from the start. SMART SHOT (#12) brings plenty of strong works into her debut, including a bullet work at Churchill last weekend, indicating she has talent. HAZANA (#5) dueled and gave way in her debut at Parx last month, but she seems capable of better and gets Julien Leparoux for this. LET’S ROLL (#6) has worked strongly over this track, including a bullet work last month. She’s bred wonderfully.

A’s) 7, 12
B’s) 5, 6
C’s) None

Race 8
CHERRY LODGE (#2) was good enough to beat highly regarded Rubilinda in her first try on turf at Belmont on July 9. That was also her first start in nine months (Rubilinda has won two stakes since). She didn’t route as effectively in the Riskaverse last time out, and returning to sprinting may be key. SMILING CAUSEWAY (#9) has done nothing wrong, including finishing a game second to the aforementioned Rubilinda in a stakes at Belmont last time out. She has the speed to be in it from the start. EXCESSIVESPENDING (#4) found a mile a bit too far in a stakes at Indiana Grand on Sept. 6, but her big turf-sprint N1X win at Ellis the race prior shows this game suits her well. It’s also nice to see Leparoux take the call.

A’s) 2
B’s) 4, 9
C’s) None

Race 9
CHALON (#8) can flat out sizzle. That got her into a duel in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America here Oct. 7, but she only relented late to top-class Finley’sluckycharm. She does have to deal with an extra furlong here. MISS SUNSET (#11) invades off two big stakes wins at Del Mar. She’s the real deal. A bullet work since says she holds her edge. TEQUILITA (#7) has had a fine year and comes off a nice win in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks. Sprinting is her game, and she won her only prior start here. CLASSY TUNE (#9) couldn’t get to MISS SUNSET in that Del Mar stakes last time but must be respected. OVERTURE (#2) closed well to be third to TEQUILITA in that Charles Town Oaks after a slow start. She has more speed than that. NONNA MELA (#4) ran into a mud lover when second in the Grade 2 Prioress last time. She’s been freshened and has worked well since.

A’s) 8, 11
B’s) 7, 9
C’s) 2, 4

Race 10
JAUNT (#9) has been knocking on the door and might finally be ready to break through. She ran well to be second on this course in the spring. FREEDOM (#4) can be excused for her last two as the first came after nine months off, and then she was going too far in her last start. The $650,000 daughter of War Front fits better here and was a big second on this course a year ago. TIME TO FLIRT (#7) was a solid fourth in a turf route at Saratoga on Aug. 19. She’s been freshened and has fired before off the bench. HALLIE BELLE (#5) finished gamely to be a sharp second at Laurel Sept. 22. Not only was that run strong, it came after nearly 11 months on the bench, so she’s eligible to improve.

A’s) 4, 9
B’s) 7
C’s) 5