Keeneland: Closer Looks for April 4, 2014

Race 2

Artful Lady

Solid turnback possibility from the fence especially since she faced tougher in her last pair of route efforts; also of interest is her sole start at Keeneland where she suffered through a very troubled trip in a large field; alert getaway required today.

My Regency Lady

Tries blinkers and the seven furlong distance for the first time; was bet down heavily when dropping to the claiming ranks recently; likely to face immediate pace pressure and cannot be given the main vote now with the class rise.

Radiant

Makes her first start for a tag since being claimed last season; unlucky filly has lost ground in all recent attempts and the return to the main oval and sprint setting can help immensely; note superior numbers for this trainer/jockey team.

Maybe Lily

Exits a decent comeback race where she pressed the issue before checking in a distant third; in her sole appearance at this oval last autumn, she was compromised by a wide post and path; can be in the early mix at the very least.

Share the Sugar

Newcomer hails from G1 Heatseeker who banked 1.17 million and whose offspring have won 3 of 56 debuts; the dam won 2 of 13 and 81K; among the winning siblings is 92K earner Fevernthefunkhouse.

Follow the Kitten

Bold finish 2 weeks ago at Fair Grounds but that placing was helped by a red-hot early pace; such fractions may not be in the cards today yet she still must be respected because this marks her first venture against claimers.

Petite Warrior

This filly broke slowest of all in a bulky field in her maiden voyage last month; her sire won a G1 sprint and 239K while the dam won 1 of 8 attempts and 21K; among the winning siblings is 23K earner Texas Josh. - Jim Kachulis

Race 4

Rapscallion

A couple of his starts over turf as a 3-year-old were solid performances, but it would have been nice to have seen him show a little bit more in his first start back from a layoff in his latest outing, and this looks like a tough next step for him; it might be worth noting the presence of Velazquez aboard another in here.

English Pound

He deserves some credit for his consistent approach to the game but it just doesn't look like his best effort is quite strong enough to get over on the top contenders in this one; prefer to side with others.

Big N Perfect

Dixiana-homebred has done little wrong in his first two starts, especially when considering those races were run at distances of a 1m and 1 1/2m; this certainly isn't a soft spot for him to land in, but he's shown that he has the talent, and this will be his first start with Lasix; have to respect his chances while going out for a top turf barn with a strong rider assigned.

Mutasaawy

This has a chance to prove to be a tough spot for his first start against winners, but he ran well in a number of his turf starts in the maiden ranks while showing the ability to pack a strong stretch punch; runner up from latest won next out at FG on 3/9 going 1 1/16m over turf vs. MSW rivals with a 77 Beyer.

Wings of Fortune

He consistently runs races that are fast enough to suggest that he belongs with these, but when seeing that he has eight runner-up finishes from 14 starts with just a single victory, and that seven of those runner-up finishes have come from eight turf starts without a win, it's tough to trust him for the top spot.

Kingston Jamaica (IRE)

He's G3 stakes placed racing in Ireland, but he did earn that placing against four rivals, and he has been beaten by a couple of today's rivals in his first two starts in America; he is going to need to show more if he's to see his number posted on top after this one is run.

Secret Bid

Two of his three turf starts have been respectable performances and he's shown that he's versatile enough to adapt to any early pace scenario; this barn has been going strong with turf starters the past couple of years and it's interesting to see blinkers going on for this; this colt is out of a multiple G1 winning dam who won 14 of 17 starts for $1.6 million, and he's a 1/2 to multiple G1 winner Smuggler (5-9, 654k).

Rei

Late running colt put together one of the sharper performances of his career while making his first start back from a layoff in his latest outing, and he's out of a multiple graded stakes winning dam who won 8 of 37 starts for 526k, and six of her wins were earned over turf.

Professor Midnight

He figures to appreciate getting back over turf for his first start as a 4-year-old and he ran pretty well in a few of his turf starts as a 3-year-old; third-place finisher from latest won next out at OP on 1/11 going 1m vs. starter alw. rivals with a 78 Beyer and is currently on a three-race win streak.

Scout Leader

He has a quality pedigree, but not all that wild about what he's shown in his two starts since being placed over turf, and perhaps his best chance will come if this race has to be moved to the main track.

Foolhardy

His been in pretty good form lately but this looks like it might prove to be a tough spot for him to step up out of the claiming ranks to try to tackle N1X allowance rivals; he needs to see a scratch from the main body of this race to draw in and looks like more of an outsider.

Gran Chat

He might be able to get himself in the running through the opening stages if he draws in, but he's never run a race that is strong enough to suggest that he can keep himself involved in the running throughout against these; runner up from latest won next out at TP on 3/30 going 6 1/2f vs. 15k N2L claimers with a 67 Beyer. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Miss Arrangement

Returns to the scene of her first out score in the fall which earned a number that fits quite well in here; filly should have some bottom for the turn back to sprint after tackling a couple of routes on the Gulfstream lawn and a top pilot sticks with her; she's kin to a handful of winners including G2 SW sprinter and 227K earner Honorable Dillon so she certainly has a right to get better; giving her the nod to run them down.

Royal Witch

Took a good step forward to score when turned back to sprint and equipped with shades in her return from the brief break at Turfway; filly tackles winners for the first time in this spot and the barn hasn't had any recent luck with runners second off the break; she'll need to take another solid step forward to have a say in the outcome.

Gold Magic

That was some maiden score on the Mountaineer dirt when in with older for the first time last month; filly takes on a tougher set in her return to facing straight sophomores, but she's got plenty of early foot and she worked here earlier in the week like she'll have little trouble handling this new surface.

Abou

She beat just 4 foes home to break her maiden first out at odds on at Tampa Bay Downs and subsequently had little to offer when in over her head in the Gulfstream route stake; filly should like this bunch better, but her lone sib to race was G3 SW router and 267K earner Joe Vann whose 3 wins all came going long; though she's been working well at her base she'll be trying different footing today.

Hot Squeeze

New York bred showed plenty of ability on the lawn last year and now she'll return from better than 5 months on the shelf to try synthetic footing; she's got solid early foot and though she boasts just one recent listed drill this barn brings them back ready, but she's never gone this far; expect she'll be involved in pace for as long as she goes.

Appreciating

She'll step out of stakes company for the initial time since breaking her maiden first out in Canada; filly has been away for more than 4 months, but she lures a top pilot and figures to appreciate the return to one turn racing; she handled synthetic footing north of the border in the fall and that recent local drill says she's one her toes for this; contender.

Irish Score

Outside drawn filly makes her first start of the year after apparently finding her niche going long on the Aqueduct lawn; she's been working over synthetic footing for a while now and she's proven that one turn racing is well within her scope as well; barn boasts excellent numbers with its returnees and a top pilot takes interest as the gal tries winners for the first time in here. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Coastal Moon

Sire is 105-for-755 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 2-for-7 dam (26K) who captured her 1st-two career races; she produced 6 winners from 7 other foals to race including stakes winner-The Nth Degree (6-for-40, 253K) who won 4th time out.

Ranger Regiment

Makes his 3-year-old seasonal debut off the 94-day layoff for a trainer 1-for-23 since 2013 with similar-fresh runners; the good news is his career-best Beyer speed figure was accomplished in his only KEE-synthetic start; the bad news is his running style suggests he will need longer than 6F to see very-best form.

Metro Dreamer

Projects to sit just off Macro Zoom then get 1st run on the closers; blinkers on is a 22%-win angle for his trainer since 2013; the new hood could enhance his gate speed enough to make the front today which would make him doubly tough to catch in deep stretch; is the one to beat.

King of Bay

Sire is 42-for-413 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 2-for-8 dam (77K) who did not win until race 6 but it was accomplished racing over today's KEE-synthetic surface; her only other foal to race is 2-for-10 Kingofalldiamonds (72K) who won his 2nd-career start at 1 Mile on turf.

Macro Zoom

Made the lead with 1st blinkers in last; he figures to fly from the gate again for this to play catch me if you can; has Metro Dreamer to fend off early then the closers late; the debut winner and runner-up finisher Beyered 79-56 in next-out TAM-MSW and 53K-stakes wins.

Watery Moon

Has worked the best among the 3 firsters; sire is 105-for-755 with 1st-time starters; from a win-early family; he is out of a 4-time-stakes-winning dam (7-for-13, 392K) who won her first 4 career starts producing 4 winners from 6 other foals to race including SW-Sherriff Cogburn (2-for-9, 203K) who captured his 1st-two career starts; the pick.

H Town Brown

Today is the shortest-distance test of career; switches to a synthetic surface after the turf-debut key-race loss with a field-best Beyer speed figure attached; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 85 in a next-out GP-MSW score; he defeated the 7th and 8th-place finishers from last; they Beyered 72-66 in next-out GP-50K-maiden-claiming and MSW wins.

Appealing Alex

Removes blinkers trying to shake up the form from 1st pair; the latest was a 2nd-time out Beyer regression when any runner's 2nd start is usually an improvement; cuts back in distance for the new synthetic surface; his trainer is 0-for-6 with synthetic runners since 2013; others appeal more. - Art Gropper

Race 7

La Malaguena

She earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure when last seen, but that level of performance hasn't been the norm for her, and she can't afford to show up with anything less against these; prefer to keep looking around in here.

Dame Marie

She's capable of putting together a strong performance on her best day and it might be worth noting the presence of Leparoux when considering how well she's run the last two times that he's been aboard; as long as she gets some early pace in front of her, she figures to be making noise through the lane.

Maid On a Mission

She's likely going to be forwardly placed through the opening stages but this stakes placed mare will need to top her previous best effort in order to get over on the top contenders in here; she looks like more of an outsider.

Zero Game (IRE)

High Chaparral has been a strong influence as a turf sire and this filly has run well in two of her four starts since arriving in America; she might prefer this turf course to what she competed over in her two starts at Gulfstream Park.

Karola's Dance

She's been at her best racing over dirt in her career and this has to be considered an extremely difficult spot for her to get back over turf; this barn has made the most of their starters in 2014, but this filly has the look of an outsider.

Sisterly Love

Sire wins with approximately 8% of his turf starters and dam was winless from one start, and it wasn't a turf start; she's won five of 12 starts, including a G3 victory, but it is fair to wonder if she can be at her best racing over turf.

Absolute Crackers (IRE)

Stakes placed miss was a sharp winner in her only start over this turf course, and even though the time off prior to this might be a concern, she's run well when fresh in the past; perhaps the assignment of Rosario is a positive indicator.

Drama Drama

She's Grade 2 stakes placed racing over the main track here, something to consider if this race has to be taken off the turf, but her overall turf form has been solid as well; stone-cold closer can prove to be a player in this spot regardless of surface.

Moon Philly

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and dam was winless from five starts, including one turf start; multiple stakes winner sports solid overall form, but turf is a question; third-place finisher from latest won next out at FG on 2/22 going 1 1/16m over turf in a 60k stakes with a 94 Beyer.

Primed for Passion

She did some nice work from six starts in 2013 after moving into this barn and this will be her first turf start for them; Napravnik has been known to get live calls from this outfit and the runner up from her latest race won next out at FG on 11/29 going 1m over turf in a 72k stakes with a 94 Beyer. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Chelsea Road

Takes the next step up the class ladder in her local return after narrowly scoring at a shorter trip in Louisiana last month; filly draws inside in a field with very little early foot so wouldn't be surprised to see Rosie aggressive with her from the bell once again and the added ground shouldn't bother her, but the synthetic record certainly leaves something to be desired.

Elusive Fate

Goes second back from the break after backing out of it from a wide spot in her return to the races; filly didn't do much in either of her 2 local spin last year and maybe she just doesn't want synthetic footing but she does lure a top pilot for this and has a right to move forward with her last behind her.

Bella Castani

Turfer tries synthetic footing for the initial time after getting beaten less than a length as the chalk going long on the Gulfstream lawn; one turn racing doesn't look to pose her much difficulty and the barn boasts solid recent numbers moving them to this surface; expecting a big effort here; contender.

Street Girl

Grade 1 SP filly makes her first start of the year off several sharp recent drills; late runner takes a big drop in company for the comebacker but she catches a field with little early foot so she figures to be up against it pacewise; she's never tried synthetic footing so that's another hurdle she'll have to clear; she owns the better numbers in here so if she's set for her best she's obviously a huge danger, but she'll probably be much better next time; trying to beat her on the win end.

Weekend Wish

Mare is in for the optional tag while making her return to the scene of a light figure route score last fall; she's handled sprint trips and her most recent wins did come at one turn; maybe she moves forward with her last behind her, but a minor award may prove to be he ceiling.

In Haste

Tries this surface for the first time while turning back to sprint in her second back from the freshening; filly doesn't have any early lick and that could well leave her with a lot to do late; sharp barn does do a decent job with runners second back from time off and a top pilot will get aboard; price figures to be right.

Tipthetrolleygirl

Draws outside for her first crack over this type of footing; she packs a nice kick when right and she did sit a wide spot while earning a competitive number in her Fair Grounds finale; expecting she'll move forward and prove a big threat in the lane. - Steve Grabowski

Race 9

Medal Count

His one turf start was an impressive effort and he finished well the final 16th after having some trouble finding a clear path; his only poor performance to date was without Lasix and he's out of a G3 stakes placed dam who won 4 of 16 starts for 216k, including 2 of 7 turf starts for 98k.

Ry's the Man

He ships up from New Orleans and he'll have to improve along the Beyer Speed Figure scale to get the job done in his graded stakes debut but it's tough to fault what he's done in his two turf starts; perhaps a minor award is within reach, but looking elsewhere for the top spot.

Woodfield Springs

His first start with Lasix in his latest outing was a much improved performance and he retains the services of a rider who rides this turf course as well as anyone; lightly raced 3-year-old may very well still have more to show us and his connections are taking a confident approach by making this his first attempt against winners; his dam was multiple graded stakes placed while winning 3 of 21 turf starts for 559k.

Hesinfront

He's by a top turf sire and he showed some turf ability in his starts over grass as a 2-year-old; like the idea of getting him back over turf and he'll appreciate the class relief after facing the likes of Wildcat Red, General a Rod and Top Billing.

Kody With a K

When seeing his improved recent form, he might deserve another chance to see what he can do over turf, but this is a very tough spot to get him back on grass; runner up from latest won next out at DeD on 3/15 going 7 1/2f vs. starter alw. rivals with a 56 Beyer; Rosier has won with 5 of 11 (45%) mounts for this barn in 2014.

Red River Rising

Sire wins with approximately 8% of his turf starters and dam was winless from one start, and it wasn't a turf start; this is a tough spot for his first turf test, and in a race where the winner might earn a Beyer Speed Figure in the 90's, his top figure is 65.

Laddie Boy

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and multiple stakes placed dam won 5 of 19 starts for 116k, including 0-for-5 over turf; he's two races removed from a G2 stakes placing, but he's going to need to step up his game in a noticeable way to threaten these in his turf debut.

Pleuven (FR)

He's a stakes winner racing in France and he's run well in back-to-back starts since arriving in America; he hails from a strong turf barn and like the idea of him getting over the Keeneland turf for the first time; note that he finished right behind today's rival, and stablemate, Storming Inti in his latest start.

Global View

Grade 3 winner has run well in all three of his turf starts and he's eligible to show up with his best effort to date while making only his second start as a 3-year-old; 500k purchase looks like he tuned up with a sharp five furlongs at Tampa on March 26 in preparation for this.

Storming Inti

The next time this multiple stakes winner runs a bad race will be the first time and he figures to appreciate the slight turn back in distance for this; he just had a four-race win streak snapped and he's one of two live looking horses signed on in this spot for the Brown barn.

Picozza

This isn't a soft spot for him to be meeting up with winners for the first time, but have to respect the improvement he's demonstrated through his first four starts, and it's tough to count him out of it with Pletcher and Velazquez behind him.

Can'thelpbelieving (IRE)

He was impressive in breaking his maiden two starts back at Gulfstream Park and he didn't finish all that far behind a couple of today's key rivals in his graded stakes debut in his latest outing; can't ignore the presence of Garcia aboard Pleuven in here, but this colt loses nothing with Rosario taking over. - Brian Pochman