Henny Jenney's last effort on dirt an encouraging sign
Racing-office policy on whether a particular race will be carded sometimes seems more art than science, but whatever the case, the nominal Friday feature at Keeneland was allowed to go with just five 3-year-old fillies.
“I’m just glad it went, period,” said Bill Connelly, who will saddle Henny Jenney in the eighth of 10 races, a $65,000 allowance with no restrictions.
Henny Jenney most recently was second at 24-1 behind the Breeders’ Cup-bound Thank You Marylou in the Sept. 20 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs.
“She shows up every time,” said Connelly. “I was glad to see her run as well as she did on the dirt. She’s run mostly on synthetic, so that should give us more options with her.”
Henny Jenney will have Corey Lanerie aboard when breaking from the rail in the seven-furlong feature of a program that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Three other allowances (races 5, 7, and 9) also are on tap.
Friday marks the second-to-last day of the 17-day fall meet. The Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette Stakes, with Departing and Long River as likely favorites, helps close out the meet Saturday. Churchill Downs starts its fall meet Sunday.
Friday is “See Blue” Day at Keeneland. Fans are encouraged to wear blue in support of the University of Kentucky, which faces the No. 1-ranked college football team, Mississippi State, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at nearby Commonwealth Stadium.
Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Henny Jenney (Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-70)
◗ Late-running style suggests she will need two or three of them to go sailing off at a nice clip. Sure has developed a solid kick, and as Connelly said, her return to dirt in the Dogwood was very encouraging.
◗ Connelly, a trainer since 1980, shows outstanding numbers in several categories applying to this situation, including a second-off-the-layoff win percentage of 31.
Avicii (Last 3 Beyers: 74-61-73)
◗ Onetime standout prospect for Lynn Whiting blew doors against $50,000 claimers in her second post-claim effort, winning easier than the nearly seven-length margin suggests.
◗ Michelle Lovell has had a decent last few weeks with limited opportunities, having won not only with this filly but also with Victory Colors at Keeneland and Go Go Rocket at Indiana Grand.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Avicii. Trainer Michelle Lovell is 24-9-2-4 with a $7.62 ROI over the past five years going from claiming to allowance with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Courageous Julie (Last 3 Beyers: 79-77-77)
◗ Absolutely refused to lose when going through her second allowance condition in a two-turn race on the first Saturday of the meet, so this turnback in distance presents an intriguing scenario against four others who all have been sprinting.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Courageous Julie. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is 13-0-0-2 over the past five years going from route to sprint with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Silver Union (Last 3 Beyers: 76-58-81)
◗ Might not have beaten much in that first-level allowance at Churchill last month, but she does draw favorably in the outside post and seems to match up Beyer-wise and otherwise for top connections.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Silver Union. Trainer Mike Maker is 25-2-6-5 with a $0.56 ROI over the past year in dirt sprints with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan