Keeneland Babies: 2-year-old picks and analysis for Oct. 26

Race 4

1. KATURA (Kitten's Joy - Exceedexpectations, by Tale of the Cat)

85K yearling, 240K 2yo after 1F work 10.2; full multiple SW Politicallycorrect (451K, 1-4 at 2, 0-1 turf) by 35-206 (17%) 2yo FTS, 45-276 (16%) 1st-turf sire; sprint winner (68K) has 2 winners from 2 runners (1-2 with 2yos, 0-2 with 2yos); female family 2yo G1 turf SW Sporting Yankee (England); barn 4-13 (31%, $2.18 ROI) past 5 years 2yo FTS turf (1-5 routes); 8/7 work matches My Sweet Princess (6th FTS 32K MCL polytrack 26 Beyer 9/21 WO); 9/25 work matches Bowman's Causeway (92 Beyer dirt, synthetic); 10/2 work matches Ginger Goose (4th AN1X turf 77 Beyer 10/13 WO); 10/9 work matches Perfectly Marked (5th FTS MSW polytrack 57 Beyer 10/19 WO)

2. HIGH WIRE KITTEN (Kitten's Joy - Littlebitoflove, by High Yield)

Sire 111-597 (19%) 2yos, 266-1707 (16%) turf; dam won route (26K) with 2 winners from 4 runners (0-2 with 2yos, 1-4 with turfers); dam 1/2 SW New Capricorn (Italy), G3 SW Lady Six (Brazil), SP Babysix (Brazil); barn 0-13 past 5 years 2nd-out turf routes; sat pace-tracking, ground-saving trip, waited bit upper stretch, split 3w midstretch and just missed bob in slower division; contender.

3. SMART ASHLEY (Smart Strike - Awesome Ashley, by Unbridled's Song)

Sire 168-987 (17%) 2yos, 520-3558 (15%) turf; 1st starter from multiple SW (303K, 1-3 at 2, 0-2 turf); dam 1/2 route SP The Underling (146K, 0-3 at 2, 0-6 turf); barn 5-48 (10%, $3.70 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf route MSW; saved ground midpack and gave a solid rally along the rail in the faster division 10/10; respect.

4. THE CONCEPTION (Corinthian - Red Boa, by Regal Classic)

20K weanling, 15K yearling, 24K 2yo after 1F work 10.4; sire 47-373 (13%) 2yos, 8-112 (7%) 1st-turf; 1st starter from 2yo sprint SP dam (38K, 1-5 at 2, 0-2 turf); 2nd dam sprint SP Plume Poppy (76K, 2-5 turf); barn 0-1 past 5 years synthetic/turf; steadied and shuffled backstretch 10/11, she came with a 4w bid before hanging a bit in the stretch; back up in class.

5. CITIZEN KITTEN (Kitten's Joy - Brickyard Gal, by Proud Citizen)

Sire 111-597 (19%) 2yos, 45-276 (16%) 1st-turf; unplaced dam (4K, 0-1 at 2, 0-1 turf) has 1 winner from 2 runners (0-2 with 2yos, 1-1 with turfers); 3rd dam multiple G1 SW Magical Maiden (901K, 2-4 at 2, 1-2 turf, 1st-turf winner); barn 0-2 past 5 years dirt/turf; not much on dirt, but has turf bloodlines; exotics price potential.

6. U S DREAM (U S Ranger - Madeleine's Dream, by Theatrical)

19K RNA short yearling, 50K claim 2yo by multiple turf SW (481K, 3-3 at 2, 2-38 with 2yos, 1-13 turf); dam French G1 turf SW (214K, 2-2 at 2, 2-3 turf) with 3 winners from 5 runners (0-3 with 2yos, 3-5 with turfers); dam 1/2 French turf SW Ozal (95K, 1-3 at 2, 2-20 turf), full G3 SW Miss Lenora (102K, 0-4 at 2, 5-24 turf); barn 7-31 (23%, $2.51 ROI) past 5 years 2yos synthetic/turf; showed speed fast turf MSW KD; hung out 4w early 10/4, dropped back turn, re-rallied bit stretch; respect her speed.

7. CURLINS QUEEN (Curlin - Catbaby, by A.P. Indy)

75K yearling; sire 20-150 (13%) 2yos, 9-92 (10%) turf; unplaced dam (0-2 at 2) has 3 winners from 5 runners (0-3 with 2yos, 1-3 with turfers); dam 1/2 multiple SW Managed Account (263K, 2-5 at 2, 0-1 turf); barn 2-10 (20%, $1.56 ROI) past 5 years 2nd-out/2nd-route 2yos turf MSW; didn't lose much ground despite post 10, split horses turning for home and was gaining late.

8. TEMPER TOO (Lemon Drop Kid - Teenage Temper, by A.P. Indy)

Sire 99-733 (14%) 2yos, 340-2468 (14%) turf; route winner (62K, 0-2 turf) has 3 winners from 4 runners (0-4 with 2yos, 1-3 with turfers); dam 3/4 multiple turf SP Nice Nelly (72K, 1-3 at 2, 1-6 turf), 1/2 turf SP Ms Pianist (79K, 1-3 at 2, 0-10 turf); barn 23-176 (13%, $1.33 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf (1-5 adding Lasix); broke well, but was outsprinted to midpack, came 4w stretch, altered to rail and finished mildly; 10/18 Keeneland Clocker Report notes "in company with Daring Dancer [66 turf Beyer] and was a little bit better at the finish"; capable.

9. ARMY (Corinthian - Dream Realized, by Awesome Again)

12K yearling; sire 47-373 (13%) 2yos, 52-405 (13%) turf; unraced dam 0 winners from 3 runners (0-3 with 2yos, 0-1 with turfers); 2nd dam G3 SP Dreamers Glory (174K, 1-2 at 2, 1-8 turf); barn 1-4 (25%, $23.75 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf; 4th-finisher 9/8 won 25K MCL turf 51 Beyer 9/26; good ground-saving trip, but failed to kick it in against maiden claimers.

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

Sire 146-1015 (14%) 2yos, 251-1941 (13%) turf; 1st starter from route winner (43K, 0-1 at 2, 0-4 turf); dam full G3 route SW Ravel (180K, 1-2 at 2, 0-1 turf), G1 turf SW Centre Court (789K, 0-1 at 2, 6-13 turf); barn 6-50 (12%, $1.21 ROI) past 5 years dirt/turf (0-1 with 2yos); 2nd-finisher 9/2 won MSW KD 66 Beyer 9/18; well-behind slow pace 9/2, finished evenly in ok effort.

11. YOU MAKE ME SING (Unbridled's Song - Our Dani, by Homebuilder)

75K RNA yearling; 1/2 multiple G1 SW You ($2.1M, 3-6 at 2) by 157-899 (17%) 2yos, 61-493 (12%) 1st-turf; dam won sprint (11K, 0-1 at 2, 0-1 turf) with 4 winners from 9 runners (2-6 with 2yos, 0-6 with turfers); dam 1/2 SP Tammany Doll (40K, 0-5 at 2, 0-2 turf); barn 0-6 past 5 years.

12. GINA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy - Noontime Nuggets, by Quiet American)

30K yearling, 50K RNA 2yo after 1F work 10.4; sire 111-597 (19%) 2yos, 266-1707 (16%) turf; route winner (30K) has 1 winner from 2 runners (0-2 with 2yos, 0-1 with turfers); dam 1/2 G3 SP Calamari (90K, 0-2 at 2, 2-21 turf); barn 6-40 (15%, $1.24 ROI) past 5 years 2nd-out 2yos turf route; last on the rail with 3F to run, she altered widest and came with a pretty good run in the stretch.

SELECTIONS (TURF ONLY):

1. Smart Ashley

2. High Wire Kitten

3. Temper Too

THE PLAY (TURF ONLY):

Smart Ashley to win at 3-1 odds or greater.