Keeneland Babies: 2-year-old picks and analysis for Oct. 23

RACE 7

1. SEQUESTER (Thewayyouare - Jacqui's Promise, by Loup Sauvage)

27K RNA yearling; 1st-crop sire 2yo G1 turf SW (340K, 4-5 at 2, 1-23 with 2yos); winning dam (242K, 1-3 at 2, 0-1 route) has 2 winners from 3 runners (0-2 with 2yos); dam 1/2 turf SW Followmyfootsteps (209K, 0-1 at 2), G3 turf SW Corporate Jungle (293K); barn 0-4 past 5 years dirt/synthetic; Schu deputizes for suspended Gorder; outsprinted along the inside through fast fractions, she rallied mildly without threatening along the inside.

2. BETH ANN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy - Crumbs of Comfort, by Pulpit)

Full turf SW Amen Kitten (123K, 0-6 at 2, 0-1 route) by 111-596 (19%) 2yo sire; dam won route (36K, 1-2 route) with 1 winner from 3 runners (0-2 with 2yos, 0-1 with routers); 3rd dam multiple turf SP Land of Ivory (Europe); barn 2-13 (15%, $5.38 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf/synthetic; 3x beaten chalk saved ground most of way before even finish 9/18; six horses have run back from that race; none cracked the top three next-out; demand value.

3. LATIQUE (Elusive Quality - Chatique, by Deputy Minister)

27K RNA yearling; sire 98-665 (15%) 2yos; unplaced dam has 3 winners from 6 runners (1-2 with 2yos, 1-4 with routers); dam 1/2 multiple G3 turf SW Fantastic Fellow (633K, 1-3 at 2); barn 3-11 (27%, $1.65 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf/synthetic routes; raced greenly 9/21; broke inward, sat good trip in behind leader on rail and was 2nd-best despite failing to change leads; capable, but still learning.

4. RUSSIAN NIGHT (Midnight Lute - At Night, by Dayjur)

41K weanling, 23K yearling; 1/2 route SP Royal Dream (103K, 0-4 route) by 16-130 (12%) 2yo sire; unraced dam has 1 winner from 2 runners (0-1 with 2yos, 0-2 with routers); dam full multiple SW Musafi (248K); barn 3-100 (3%, $0.76 ROI) past 5 years 2yos synthetic; overmatched in G1 stake after dull debut on dirt.

5. TURTLE RIVER (Empire Maker - Dattts Our Girl, by Thunder Gulch)

Sire 55-328 (17%) 2yos; 1st starter from SW dam (175K, 1-5 route); 3rd dam multiple G1 SW Lakeway (965K, 1-1 at 2, 5-11 route); barn 3-14 (21%, $1.84 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf/synthetic; broke poorly and was far back along inside when finishing behind 2 of these; note that Mott historically better 2nd-out than with firsters.

6. ANGEL OF MERCY (First Samurai - Midtown Miss, by Yes It's True)

120K yearling; sire 47-332 (14%) 2yos; dam multiple SW (221K, 2-7 at 2, 0-1 route) with 1 winner from 2 runners (0-2 with 2yos); dam 1/2 G3 sprint SP True and True (186K, 0-1 at 2); barn 2-11 (18%, $1.00 ROI) past 5 years 2yos dirt/synthetic; that pace came apart 9/30, but she only made a minimal late impact; expect more speed in first route.

7. SPANGLED BANNER (Tiz Wonderful - Eastern Ruckus, by Eastern Echo)

55K weanling; 1/2 multiple SW Ladyecho (381K, 2-6 at 2, 1-9 at 2), G2-placed router Whatdreamsrmadeof (137K, 1-4 at 2, 0-5 route) by 29-154 (19%) 2yo sire; unraced dam has 5 winners from 7 runners (2-4 with 2yos, 2-6 with routes); dam 1/2 multiple SW Gold Star Deputy (416K, 2-5 at 2, 6-27 route); barn 2-12 (17%, $0.91 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf/synthetic; far back early off slow pace, she made 4w bid and tried to the wire; 10/13 Keeneland Clocker Report notes she "went easily, was a little better than Live For Now"; contender.

8. FONEPFERESH (Holy Roman Emperor - Vee Gita, by Vettori)

Sire multiple 2yo turf SW (Ireland, 764K, 4-7 at 2, 0-8 with North America 2yos); 1st starter from unraced dam; dam 1/2 G1 route SW 2yo Vale of York (1.2M, 3-6 at 2, 1-2 route); barn 10-143 (7%, $0.59 ROI) past 5 years 2yos synthetic (0-11 sprint/route); last entering turn 10/12, steadied slightly when one-paced midstretch; perhaps a bit more speed here.

9. SAKEENA (Proud Citizen - Tarteel, by Bahri)

Sire 86-621 (14%) 2yos; dam won turf (61K, 1-4 at 2) with 2 winners from 3 runners (0-2 with 2yos, 0-1 with router); 2nd dam turf SP Elrehaan (England); barn 6-43 (14%, $1.48 ROI) past 5 years turf/synthetic (0-2 with 2yos); worked out comfortable pocket trip 9/21, but failed to mount a stretch challenge; 10/15 Keeneland Clocker Report notes "was traveling well at the finish.”

10. CRISSY FIELD (City Zip - Coffee House, by Storm Cat)

110K RNA yearling; sire 197-1102 (18%) 2yos; placed dam (23K, 0-3 at 2, 0-6 route) with 2 winners from 3 runners (0-3 with 2yos, 2-2 with routers); dam 1/2 G3 route SP Pine for Java (137K, 1-11 at 2, 3-15 route); barn 7-35 (20%, $6.60 ROI) past 5 years turf/synthetic (0-3 with 2yos); broke well, but dropped back drastically early, advanced outside on turn and finished evenly outside.

11. ANNULMENT (Broken Vow - After Thought, by Fusaichi Pegasus)

Sire 146-1015 (14%) 2yos; 1st starter from route winner (43K, 0-1 at 2, 1-3 route); dam full G3 route SW Ravel (180K, 1-2 at 2, 3-10 route), G1 turf SW Centre Court (789K, 0-1 at 2); barn 1-32 (3%, $0.75 ROI) past 5 years dirt/synthetic (0-4 with 2yos); certainly wasn't disgraced in most recent outing at CD and seems well-spotted here.

12. STREETHOMEALABAMA (Street Sense - Servalina, by A.P. Indy)

95K yearling by 32-226 (14%) 2yo sire; unraced dam has 0 winners from 3 runners (0-3 with 2yos, 0-1 with routers); female family multiple G1 SW Excellent Meeting (1.4M, 4-8 at 2, 6-14 route); barn 5-39 (13%, $1.26 ROI) past 5 years 2yos synthetic MSW routes; bobbled start, saved ground early before splitting foes 3w far turn; 2nd-best in solid heat.

SELECTIONS:

1. Spangled Banner

2. Latique

3. Annulment

THE PLAY:

Spangled Banner - Latique Exacta

Spangled Banner - Annulment Exacta