Jenny Wiley among seven stakes on tap this weekend

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The first two days of the Keeneland spring meet produced plenty of news and adventure, but wait, there’s more. Seven stakes will be run this coming weekend, including a pair of Grade 1 races, a last-gasp Kentucky Derby prep, and the return of the unbeaten filly Lady Eli.

First up is the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile on Friday, followed by four stakes Saturday, led by the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley for filly and mare turf runners and the Grade 3 Lexington, which offers 10 Derby eligibility points to the winner. The weekend ends Sunday with a pair of 3-year-old filly stakes, most notably the seasonal debut of Lady Eli in the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes.

The $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile is expected to get a sizable field – and why not, with Wise Dan still sidelined – with the lineup to include Grand Arch, Jack Milton, Legendary, Za Approval, and perhaps another five or six older horses. Entries were to be drawn Tuesday.

The $250,000 Lexington will have Divining Rod, who ran respectably in back-to-back Derby preps in Tampa this winter, as one of the likely favorites for trainer Arnaud Delacour, a former assistant to Christophe Clement. The Lael Stables homebred ran in bar shoes when third behind Carpe Diem in the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby but will race in regular racing plates in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington.

“He breezed very well [Sunday] morning,” Delacour said early Monday, referring to a half-mile drill in 48.40 seconds. “He looks just fine this morning. The feet are good, and we have not missed any training. We’re in good shape.”

Tiznow R J and Henry Jones are among the other 3-year-olds likely for the Lexington, which drew 59 nominees.

The $300,000 Jenny Wiley, a 1 1/16-mile turf race, is expected to get a terrific cast led by the 2014 winner, Hard Not to Like, along with Ball Dancing, Filimbi, I’m Already Sexy, and probably another four or five starters.

The two other Saturday stakes are the Grade 3, $150,000 Ben Ali and the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway, the only ungraded stakes of the 15-day meet. Saturday entries will be drawn Wednesday.