Keeneland
Keeneland: Closer Looks for April 10, 2014
Race 1
| Lookn Mighty Fast |
| Raced evenly in his comeback race over the turf, not his preferred surface; it was a useful effort where he did not lose any ground in the final furlong; ran well at the course, class and distance in his last appearance here just about a year ago; the veteran can land a share. |
| Beach Master |
| Did not race in all of 2013 but turned in a driving score against conditional claimers 2 back; cuts back from 7 furlongs today and should have an easier time of it as a result; likes to rally from close range but is spotting much experience this afternoon. |
| Burkhaan |
| Still eligible for the weaker n3l condition and he has never won at this common distance; figures to be an early presence but more than likely will be denied the lead once again unless there are some key late scratches; cannot vote for the top spot on the ticket. |
| Fleet Beat |
| He is the only multiple winner over the course in this field; did not care for the Gulfstream surface in that 2013 getaway; closed in bold fashion here last season to upset some of these same rivals; would obviously prefer an exceptionally strong early pace this afternoon. |
| Exultant |
| Although the overwhelming majority of his career has been in route affairs, he did turn in a strong half-mile breeze recently in preparation for this comeback; returns to the purchase price and has an above average first gear; still believe he is preparing for a 2-turn engagement. |
| Happy Wac |
| Caught very wide in her last run at Presque Isle, she faded from view; definitely upgraded in the latest half-mile breeze but has been blanked in all prior visits to Keeneland (last local appearance was against better stock than this, however); mixed signals for this sturdy racemare who faces the boys for the first known time. |
| Full |
| Races for the lowest price tag of his career; broke maiden over this surface long ago but his best performances up to now have been over the turf; note steady intervals to the returning work tab and the trainer has solid numbers in all of the relevant categories; puzzling item. |
| Too Wild for Words |
| Despite having raced only once since late November, he fits this group very well; sports a fine record at this oval and trained in solid fashion at his Penn National headquarters during the last month or so; looks like a serious money player against these. |
| Silver Lining John |
| Let us focus on his 2 losses, not his victories; last June, he ran against an incredible track bias at Monmouth on 6/2 and in the race 2 back, he met some superior sprinters at Fair Grounds; if he can clear the field without much stress today, he is a major threat; exacta recommendation. - Jim Kachulis |
Race 2
| March Majesty |
| No luck out West, but she has some eventful trips; 3rd and 6th finishers in last both took maiden $32K claimers next out and the 5th finisher was 2nd beaten a half at that same level; dam was unraced; this is her first to race; passing. |
| Ginny Weasley |
| Only a brief threat the last time in town; there are several winners in the family but none were special; she does have the several races to draw from; another slice? |
| Blue Temptation |
| Would expect this part of the Maker pair much more aggressive early on; barn is awesome with cut back moves and Napravnik naturally stakes with this potent barn; don't ignore. |
| Livvyinthefastlane |
| Only a brief threat on the drop in last but she should be rolling early again; could see her pushing the issue, not sure she will be around when they hand out the hardware. |
| Miss Delstar |
| Can't be thrilled with the repeated defeats vs. softer; with the limited work tab, she will have to adapt to the synthetic on the fly; hard to adore with limited positive things to draw from here. |
| First Freedom |
| Hung wide in 3 of her 4 starts but at least she has the 2 races to draw from now; connections would like to see her start acting like top kin, Bourbon Kitty, who won 4 of 20, earned nearly $70K; back to original pilot; must hurry. |
| Holly in China |
| Beaten double digits every time and she gave up the ghost quickly in last; 3 for 15 dam won at 2, banked nearly $45K; homebred chased the soft pace in last, splits should be quicker here. |
| Loving Lorraine |
| Homebred shows in the career soft spot; she has a shot to mature with grace as kin to Mister Marti Gras, who won a number of stakes including a Grade 3 on way to millionaire status; hung wide in last and maybe she hated the rail two back; would still be careful. |
| Justice Judy |
| She has been around the wire a number of times but with each defeat, she becomes a little less attractive; been given time since last fiasco as the blinks come off; 9th finisher in last took a maiden $30K seller at CD next out and the 11th finisher beat $25K maiden foes at Tampa next out; note she was beaten by the repeater in the last return effort. |
| Skydeck |
| Must be given valid look on the drop alone; she did get to lugging last time and that is always a concern; the 2/7 winner repeated in a $50K optional with a 48 Beyer; backers can point to the fact several siblings banked 6 figures including over $350K earner Rapid Redux; last angle to think about: Rosario is 41% here when getting a leg up from Maker. |
| Already Red |
| Apparently not much of a work horse as she is 6 and still trying; dam was just one for 21; 4 of 6 siblings won including double stakes winner and near $350K earner Karakorum Splendor; not seeing it. |
| Impeached |
| Northern Afleet about 13% with debuters in a 609-runner sample; sire won juvenile debut at Del Mar, won multiple Graded stakes, earned over $600K; stakes winning 4 for 13 dam earned over $100K; both sibling won and top earner Final Judgement banked almost $100K; lean toward watching one. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 3
| Leinan |
| Draws the fence for her return to the scene of her impressive debut score here a couple of years back; filly has been away a few months, but she's also been keeping stakes company for a while now and when right she's capable of sitting close to the top early; with a sharp local drill in tow and Rosie taking the call she looms a threat. |
| Mosaicist (IRE) |
| She's dropping out of the stakes ranks as well for her return from the time off after another off the board turf sprint effort and in one of them she was beaten rather handily by today's rail drawn filly; gray does own a synthetic win and she's fired off breaks in the past, but don't know that she's as good as the gals she'll catch today; prefer others on the win end. |
| Sky Girl |
| G3 SW sprinter makes her first start of the year with a series of steady recent drills at her Payson Park base; filly earned a career best number the last time she stepped on synthetic footing and she made a nice run in her career debut over this strip a year ago; they've surely got loftier goals for her down the line so she doesn't figure to be completely cranked first time back but she's fired fresh in the past and a top pilot gets aboard; contender. |
| Triple Charm (GB) |
| Mare was beaten less than 2 lengths by G2 turf milers in her Gulfstream finale while earning her best Beyer in 3 stateside spins; 3 of this gal's overseas wins came over synthetic footing so the surface switch shouldn't bother her and she's proven that she has some quality to her; with Castellano getting aboard she looks to be the one they'll have to hold off in the lane. |
| Unhedged |
| Speedy filly catches a field without a lot of early foot and her fresh lick should give her a shot to control this one from the bell; she's a SW sprinter over synthetic footing and though she was beaten by one of today's foes the last time she went postward, that defeat came at 2 turns on the lawn; she'll get a hot pilot for this and though she's had her stamina issues of late, they'll have to run her down to win. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 5
| Infliction |
| Projects for an ideal trip saving ground stalking behind a hot pace; can she win right off the bench?; has been knocking on the door for victory with 3 straight in-the-money finishes; the 3-back KEE-show finish looks better since the runner-up finisher posted a 55 Beyer speed figure in her next-out TP-MSW win. |
| Knotty Pine (GB) |
| Sire is 4-for-45 with 1st-time starters; is the 1st foal out of an 8-for-14 Grade 1-stakes-winning dam (1.2M) who won her 1st five starts also producing 0-for-1-full Stagemanship; strong-KEE-gate drill for this but the trainer rarely wins with 1sters (1-for-49 since 2013). |
| Town Tour |
| Projects as the one to catch with Zamquick the one she will have to fend off early then the closers late; did not break well when losing to Zamquick in January; worked a dirt bullet at CD for this suggesting the main track might be the answer?; know her early then hopes to hang on late. |
| Winter Wish |
| New York-bred comes off the lengthy absence to face open-company rivals while making her 1st synthetic-surface start; was troubled in the debut so that light Beyer should be disregarded; the 3-for-30 long layoff trainer since 2013 suggests we take a wait and see approach. |
| Zamquick |
| Exits a field-best Beyer on grass; today is start 1 on a synthetic surface; keeps the trainer's 28%-win rider while turf-to-synthetic has not been her trainer's strong suit (0-for-9 since 2013); GP-last-out starters took 14 races the 1st 3 days at this KEE meet and the trainer scored with a fresh GP-last-out winner last week here; projects to chase Town Tour from the gate then hopes to hold off the closers. |
| Secret Journey |
| Beat half the field home in her TP unveiling passing runners late; remains at 6F with a light Beyer attached; obviously a major improvement would be needed 2nd-time out to make any impact here; trying KEE 26 days after the debut; others appeal more. |
| War Phone |
| Sire is 9-for-61 with 1st-time starters; is the 1st foal out of a stakes-placed dam (3-for-22, 132K) who graduated 4th-time out; the worktab for this does not entice for 1st asking; will be seeking the winner elsewhere. |
| Bella Kateri |
| 36%-winning debut trainer with a sharp-grass workout for this; sire is 160-for-943 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 3-for-16 dam (102K) who won her 4th start producing 2 winners from 2 other foals to race including 54K-earner Rocky F (2-for-7) who won his 2nd start; dangerous at 1st asking. |
| Mildred |
| Sire is 21-for-185 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 3-for-19 dam (136K) who won her 3rd start; her only other foal to race is 1-for-16 Madre Luna (88K) won her 4th start; has been working like a runner for a 1-for-14 debut trainer since 2013. |
| Ocean Spray Too |
| Did-not-finish running line 3 races ago was her only race with blinkers on; has much to prove with the hood coming back on for this; another who races 1st time over a synthetic surface after defeating 3 rivals combined in 4 losses. |
| Dixie Fiction |
| The winner from last repeated in a TAM allowance with a 78 Beyer; she defeated the 7th-place finisher from last a next-out 48 Beyer-TAM-25K-maiden-claiming winner; have to excuse her only synthetic-surface start when showing speed at longer; today is the shortest-distance test of career which should help the cause. |
| Spring Water |
| Sire is 12-for-79 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 2-for-10 dam (47K) who won her 7th start producing 4 winners from 6 other foals to race including 160K-earner Nottawasaga (4-for-16) who won her 3rd start; working like a runner for a 7%-winning 1ster trainer since 2013. - Art Gropper |
Race 6
| Unstoppable U |
| Must respect his consistency; nothing wrong with hitting the exacta half the time; Jimenez got a chance to figure him out and note he was 3 clear two back; cozy slot, may like it here. |
| Stormy Going |
| Two of 3 here so she obviously likes this layout; 1/18 place horse cashed next out in a $50K stakes with a 96 Beyer; pushed into the stakes to close out 2013 and not very sharp since; look for rider to put him into the race early and to try to discourage the other speed. |
| Red Strike |
| Gelding goes from one potent barn to another; proven for this price in Canada and the winner of the 2/8 race repeated in a $25K claimer with an 85 Beyer; Rosie 35% when riding for this outfit; the hotter the pace the better for this pro. |
| Grip Hands |
| Versatility could be his best asset; he has proven he can tow-rope a field or track and perform; considering the winner was clear in last, the race was not all that bad; proven locally off the bench for this rider; interesting. |
| Niederzel |
| Totally out of his element two back when he acted up; decent try in last but he was losing ground late; note he failed in a $10K claimer last year here; needs to show more. |
| Chalice |
| Grinder will need to have things unfold just right; 4 times as many slices as wins makes him a tough on top only ticket to think about today; backers have to hope they go bonkers early and the race falls completely apart. |
| Dreams Cut Short |
| Never easy to concede a lot of lengths early as is this runner's style; he did beat higher-priced foes here but has been off form since being pushed into the stakes to end 2013; would tread lightly. |
| Derby Kitten |
| Three of the 5 wins came on grass; wonder if that Philly finale just knocked the starch out of him; he had to take the time off and has been dull since; try to get a good look at him on the track. |
| Exploring |
| Must respect everything from this barn; proven for this price locally and she got a boost when the 2/13 winner repeated in an $80K OP claimer with a 94 Beyer; this rider has had success for Casse. |
| Conspiracy |
| Must prove it on the synthetic but like the way he competed in last despite the mud being kicked in his face; note he was over 8 clear last time; a couple of nice drills of late; this guy looks live. |
| Photo Shoot |
| Would think long and hard before taking too short a number here; last pair really on the dull side, he's hung outside and he has not been the same since trying the G3 last year; passing. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 7
| Dauphine Russe (FR) |
| This is her first start over a synthetic surface but she ran well when fresh two starts ago, and based on her most recent workout, she looks like she might be ready for her return to action; that said, it might be worth noting the presence of Castellano aboard another in here; third-place finisher from latest won next out at GP on 3/16 going 1 1/16m over turf vs. 25k OPC's with a 92 Beyer. |
| Similu (GB) |
| She was a sharp winner against 10 rivals over this surface in her first start in America, and that really was a nice effort for a 3-year-old making her first start of the year in April; winner from latest won next out at Bel on 6/16 going 1 1/8m over turf in a 90k stakes with an 80 Beyer. |
| Fioretti |
| Her overall form has been decent and she has shown some improvement since being turned back to sprint distances three races ago; winner from latest won next out at Lrl on 3/26 going 5 1/2f with a 73 Beyer. |
| Cavetto (GB) |
| She's another in here making her synthetic surface racing debut, but have to respect the way that she's improved along the Beyer Speed Figure scale in her first four starts, and her latest effort appears to be right in line with what it might take to get the job done in this spot. |
| Oxford Babes |
| Nicely bred miss is out of a multiple stakes winning dam who won 3 of 10 starts for 258k, and even though she was a heavy odds-on favorite, like to see what she did at second asking when getting the better of five rivals; that said, she will need to step it up sharply along the Beyer Speed Figure ladder to get the job done in her first attempt against winners. |
| Mary Bernice |
| She performed at a pretty consistent level between January and July of 2013, but she wasn't at her best when last seen, and she's likely going to need to produce a career best performance off of a long layoff to get the job done against these; third-place finisher from latest returned to win next out at KD on 9/25 going 1 5/16m vs. alw. rivals with an 86 Beyer. |
| Ultimate Shopper |
| Maybe she was a little disappointing at second asking after a big time career debut, but she's still looked very good in her first two starts, and this looks like a reasonable spot for her first start of 2014; winner from latest returned to win next out at Aqu on 12/4 going 6f vs. 25k OPC's with an 84 Beyer. |
| Allaboutcaroline |
| Stakes placed filly owns a win over this surface and her only poor performance from three synthetic surface starts was against Grade 2 competition; like to see the improvement she's shown along the Beyer Speed Figure scale in her first two starts of the year, and it doesn't hurt to see her attract the services of Castellano. |
| Seasoned Warrior |
| She's Grade 2 stakes placed racing over dirt, but her recent form hasn't been her best, and this might prove to be a tough spot for her to get over a synthetic surface for the first time; on a positive note, this barn has been live to begin this meeting and Elliot has won with 3 of 6 mounts for this outfit at the current stand. |
| Olympic Avenue |
| This barn has gotten off to a quick start at this meeting, and when seeing what this filly did to break her maiden in her only start over this surface a year ago, it's probably a good idea to respect her chances in this spot; there is a long layoff in play, but note the sharp looking five-furlong workout on March 21 in preparation for this. |
| Anna Pavlova |
| She was last seen producing a performance that was well below par for her, but even if she does bounce back with one of her sharper starts while making her first start after a layoff, she looks like she might have a tough time of it against these; runner up from latest won next out at TP on 3/8 going 6 1/2f vs. 40k OPC's with a 71 Beyer. |
| Previous |
| Juddmonte-homebred produced a much improved performance at second asking and that was her first start with Lasix; she's another in here making her first start over a synthetic surface, but she commands respect as a top contender against these. - Brian Pochman |
Race 8
| Sir Applesolutely |
| Bull Dozer rematch from October over the track when rallying too late at longer; wish we had better results to report on his races breaking from the rail where he figures to save ground behind a hot pace then make one run; the trainer's 1-for-20 synthetic-surface record since 2013 is noted. |
| Morpheus (GB) |
| Improving-Racing Post turf Ratings pre-rest; today gets 1st Lasix and an 8-pound weight break to his lowest-assignment ever; by far this is the shortest-distance test of his career amd 1st time on a synthetic surface is another concern; figures to race midpack then make one run. |
| Bull Dozer |
| Exits his lowest Beyer since July but was superb in his 2 previous races on KEE synthetic; hopes to revert back to that stalking trip win in October over the track; has been working well on OP dirt for this; posted a field-best Beyer on a wet-main track; freshened up for KEE so have to consider him a major player. |
| Power World |
| Posted a career-best Beyer/win following a long layoff May, 2012, but has not come close to firing back to that huge effort; his last win was on the lead and wants to be forwardly placed here in a race top heavy with gate speed; hopes to sit just off Googleado-Princedargent then get 1st run on the closers. |
| Googleado (ARG) |
| Raced on the lead in 5 of 7 he is strictly the one to catch; was dueled into defeat in latest and that is the concern again with Princedargent among others signed on here; 3rd lowest Beyer of career was in hs only other KEE attempt. |
| Princedargent (FR) |
| Speedster has Googleado to fend off early then the closers late; the runner-up, 7th and 12th-place finishers from last Beyered 97-95-87 in next-out GP-starter allowance and GP-TAM optional claiming wins; turf-to-synthetic is a 1-for-13 move from the trainer since 2013. |
| Dynamic Sky |
| His trainer began this KEE meet sizzling; scary if ready; a stakes winner at today's distance on synthetic; the runner-up finisher from last captured a 500K event at WO next out with an 88 Beyer; he beat the 6th and 9th-place finishers from last both next-out winners (88-84) taking WO alw. events. |
| Admiral Perry |
| Exits a best-last-race Beyer; always a big fan of graded-stakes starters dropping into non-graded events; Occasional View handled him over the KEE oval 2 back while some of his other-fresh starts have been far off his best form. |
| Occasional View |
| Sizzling-KEE trainer adds to the appeal as he drops from stakes company where his 1st dirt start was not his best posting his lowest Beyer since his 2nd-career start September, 2010; reunites with the KEE-win rider; main issue is if he can right off the layoff. |
| Console |
| Part of a hot pace here likely chasing it wide with Googleado and Princedargent among others projected to fly early; hopes switching to KEE synthetic will help the cause; is 1-for-1 here in 2012; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 91-101 in 2 next-out wins including a GP-Grade 3. - Art Gropper |