Keeneland: Closer Looks for October 9, 2013

Race 1

Dabblin N Royalty

While attending the pace briefly a month ago, she steadied out of contention; her sire won a G2 stakes and 319K; the dam scored in 2 of 7 appearances earning 11K; this is her only foal to compete; can upgrade with Lasix addition.

Emily Ostroski

Nothing at all to highlight thus far as she has yet to earn an exacta finish; did improve a bit in the latest half-mile breeze but that is unlikely to cause a sudden turnaround; pass until further notice.

Roselawn

Tries the main oval for the first time; her sire was a Group 1 winner who banked 1.91 million; the dam was zero for 2 lifetime; winning siblings include 103K earner Miss Victory; decent six-furlong drill in preparation for this.

Cotten Alley

Raced evenly when turning back to seven-eighths last month, a race where the early fractions were solid; she can improve further via the third start form cycle if avoiding another extra-wide journey; consider.

Call Me Anna

Set pressurized paces in the last pair; needs to get away with a very soft tempo in order to have a realistic chance; on the plus side; there is not a ton of pace opposition on view; should offer good betting value.

Shoes for Jlo

She woke up when dropping down to a claimer for the first time at Indiana; she faced only 3 opponents that day, however, and now faces a much more bulky field where the pace picture is hazy; conflicting signals.

Makin Mo Love

No match for a blowout winner at Ellis; spots 2-turn experience to much of this field and that is a big disadvantage; latest local workout was fair; remains a very difficult runner to pinpoint at this time.

More Than Krazy

First time for a tag, always a potent angle in this game; she does not have much in the way of main track experience, however; has every right to improve against this modest collection.

Yankee Diva

Makes her first start for the new connections; beaten favorite hails from Yankee Gentleman who won 4 of 10 starts and 202K; the dam won 1 of 14 and 6K; among the winning siblings is 35K earner Stellar Princess; cat atone.

Rob and Jon's Girl

Aiming high today and has a history of losing ground around the turns; doubt she has enough speed to obtain a striking position even with the lighter package scheduled; on the plus side is a vastly improved half-mile breeze.

Lioness Lahr

Closed with a rush to just miss at Arlington and although the final time of that affair was not fast, she is definitely on the upswing in recent starts; faces much better stock than this in her sole try over the course; should be a late presence again.

Sayra's Noor

Earned a personal best Beyer in that February getaway race but the returning workout regimen is nothing special; despite the major weight shift for this comeback race, she is a tough take from this extreme outpost. By Jim Kachulis

Race 2

Shadow Rock

He is making his first start on a synthetic surface and note that is the case for most all of his rivals, too, with the exception of Good Tickled; closing sprinter adds blinkers, and perhaps the main concern is whether he will get the pace setup he needs as there does not appear to be an abundance of speed in this spot.

Recalling Memories

He's an interesting prospect; he exits a quick race in which he encountered a wet track for the first time in his career; the race was also his return from a two month freshening, and he can move forward in his second start since July; he also can be closer to the pace than he was last time, perhaps getting a stalking trip; capable.

Joe Can Gallop

He's a fresh horse as this will be his first start since August; he also has tactical speed and that should serve him well in a race that does not appear to have an abundance of pace; in fact, he looks like a candidate to show the way against these.

Squadron A

He ran a big race off the bench last time, when in his first start since August he won over seven-eighths of a mile; faces winners for the first time now and a concern is that at times a horse will regress in such a situation; do like that he's worked well since his maiden score, and note he's from a stakes-winning mare who has produced a Grade 3 winner in Belgravia ($127K) and a multiple Grade 3-placed runner in Persuading ($271K).

Saturdayatbernies

He's a fresh horse with speed and looking for him to be prominent despite the fact that he is shortening up in distance; believe he could set the tempo or perhaps track Joe Can Gallop, who is situated to his inside; tries something new with the move to a synthetic track, which is the case for most of these.

Good Tickled

He is the lone member of the field with experience on a synthetic track, and his races came at Kee; they were good ones, too, as he was second in both of his starts over the local main track; draws a tactical kind of post and enters this in peak form; choice. By Mary Rampellini

Race 3

La Mejor Fiesta

Although SP filly lost ground in last two, she may handle added distance as dam won G3 Tempted on dirt at 1M; doesn't appear to be much speed in this heat and apprentice may attempt to stay close to moderate pace; 9/29 Kee Clocker notes Boom Boom Vroom (Ward 2yo with 33 dirt Beyer) "went sharply, a little stronger than La Mejor Fiesta"

Queenie's Song

Sire 12% 1st-turf; dam won G3 dirt (unraced turf) and has 2 turf winners from 4 turf runners (including 1 SP performer in France); flattered when runner-up returned to score on Tapeta with 68 Beyer Speed Figure (20-point improvement); it will be interesting to see if she needs a bit more early pace to work with; prefer on bottom of exotics.

Be Nice Or Leave

While this filly showed some heart in running down the 10-1 pacesetter in the stretch, it must be noted that the pace was very slow and that the pace horses ran 2-1 all the way around the track; perhaps Rosie will take advantage of a moderate pace scenario by placing this Kitten's Joy filly close to the lead; has some upside, but prefer others on top.

Mrs. Asher

Sire 22-184 (12%) 1st-turf; this is the 1st starter from the unraced dam; think this stretchout sprinter will be forwardly placed and she may outright have the lead going into the first turn; there are some distance and surface questions that she must address; has the mud as an excuse for her most recent race at Mountaineer; leaning elsewhere.

Too Cool

Hustled early and tracked pace dispute from outside; struck front with 2F left and dug in determinedly to repel runner-up's burst; disappointed that 3rd-finisher could only run 4th as chalk in $50,000 MCL over poly 10/4; still, this filly attracted attention of shrewd barn that doesn't claim many 2yos (0-1 past 5 years, 4-11 with all ages off claim on turf); respect.

Street Sailing

Sire 9-41 (22%) 1st turf; unplaced dam (0-1 turf) has 1 turf winner from 1 turf performer; will forgive her last as that was a tough spot against mostly males; bred for this surface, and may wind up close to the pace; beat Cosmic Emergency 7/24 (returned to score with 78 Beyer before running 3rd 9/8; taking wait-and-see approach.

Fabulous Miss Bea

Not sure if she beat much around 2 turns, but liked the way she settled manners; relaxed into comfortable rhythm down backstretch and collared pacesetter on turn; showed she has enough tactical speed to stay close to moderate splits; barn sent out 34-1 winner Gefest during spring (1-41 past 5 yrs KEE); capable.

Awesome Jill

Sire 4-8 (50%) 1st-turf performer; dam was unplaced from two starts on grass in France and this is her first starter; 3rd-finisher from debut returned to place 3rd in MSW on dirt at CD (49 Beyer); barn 1-3 (33%, $2.66 ROI) past 5 years 2yos dirt-turf; watching with interest. By Dan Illman

Race 4

Rakete

Decent showing in his first attempt at the claiming level and he can return instant dividends for the new connections; note the last non-turf attempt involved a bold middle move when losing to a repeat winner; playable.

He Be Somethin

Gets rid of the blinkers after stopping cold in his grass debut of a month ago; has been breezing well locally and may show much more staying power here as a fast early pace does not appear to be in the cards.

Beetrap

Shot down in a duel in that second venture and now tries the common ranks for the first time; his sire won a G1 stakes and 754K while the dam was zero for 3; this is her only foal to make it to the races.

Professor Trek

Races for the lowest price tag of his career and tries the main for the initial time; his sire won a G1 and 1.56 million (all of his victories were in dirt routes); the dam was unraced and there are no winning sibs to mention.

Neidermeyer

Bold finish nearly a month ago on the green; his sire is turf star Sky Classic who banked 3.3 million; the dam won 3 of 22 and 42K; sib to 118K earner Flaming Slew; difficult call with this surface switch.

Hezro

Ignore the last run at a classic distance which featured a pokey pace; he has shown fair closing kick in the past and should be able to stay within close range of this group; appears nicely positioned here.

Pegasus Star

Dons blinkers for the first time and did show some enthusiasm in his second career start at this oval; because of the pace nature of the field, he could be one of the more dangerous front-running possibilities.

Amazulu

Uncorked a fine debut rally at Indiana but then had difficult with the major extension in distance; his sire is grass specialist Cetewayo who netted 1.17 million while the dam won 2 of 12 and 14K; among the winning siblings is 78 earner Hlatikulu.

Cat's Destiny

Although this is his 13th start in these ranks, the ascending Beyer pattern is hard to ignore; made 2 moves in his last run at this distance and, in current form, might be good enough to overcome this slot; trifecta inclusion, at least, warranted.

All Inclusive

Better bred for the main oval, the gelding can improve with the equipment change and class relief today; his sire won a G1 and 1.65 million; the dam was zero for 3 lifetime; among the winning siblings is 74K earner Ukons Pic. By Jim Kachulis

Race 6

Endurable

1/2 turf SP Nault (90K, 1-4 at 2, 1-8 turf) by 17% 2yo FTS, 12% 1st-turf sire; dam won sprint (22K, 0-1 turf) with 5 wnrs/7 rnrs (2-5 with 2yos, 1 FTS winner, 2-5 turfers); dam 1/2 G2 route SW Seattle Dawn (276K, 1-4 turf); barn 0-10 pst 5 yrs 2yo FTS MSW turf routes; 7/13, 8/4 works match Quasar Power (7th FTS MSW poly 41 Beyer WO 9/15)

Kwacha

1/2 sprint SW La Wildcat (134K, 2-9 at 2, 0-2 turf), turf SW Extensive (201K, 0-2 at 2) by 16% 2yo, 12% turf sire; unraced dam has 4 wnrs.5 rnrs (1-4 with 2yos, 1-4 turfers); dam full G1 turf SP Adair (England, 86K, 1-1 at 2); barn 25%, $2.22 pst 5 yrs 2yo MSW turf route (0-5 KEE); good effort 9/13 as sharp firster needed to go 23.01 final 1/4 to get him.

Tiz a Star

30K yrlng, 45K 2yo after 1F work 10.3; sire 19% 2yos, 10% 1st-turf; 1st starter from unraced dam; dam 1/2 SW Hi Tech Honeycomb (278K, 2-5 at 2, 4-12 turf); barn 1-12, $0.88 pst 5 yrs 2yo dirt-turf (0-4 sprint/route); 9/28 work match Queen Negwer (82 turf Beyer); although beaten 2x, he faced good field 9/1 (3rd Beyered 74 here Sat.); expecting improvement.

Cov

Sire 31-282 (11%) 2yos, 18-145 (12%) 1st-turf; 1st starter from unraced dam; dam 1/2 multiple G3 SW Hoovergetthekeys (406K, 1-5 at 2, 1-8 turf); barn 1-10 (10%, $1.88 ROI) past 5 years 2nd-out 2yos dirt/turf route adding Lasix; 10/4 work matches Long Station (71 dirt Beyer); took cash and carved out legitimate pace; expect speed again.

Mister Blues

1/2 G2 route SP Moyer's Pond (454K, 0-2 turf) by 11% 2yo, 12% 1st-turf sire; winning dam (61K) has 4 wnrs/5 rnrs (1-3 with 2yos, 0-4 turfers); dam 1/2 G3 route SP 2yo Solana (98K), 2yo SW Code Love (115K, 1-4 turf, 1st-turf winner); barn 1-16, $0.41 pst 5 yrs 2yo dirt/turf; exits slow race won by colt that bombed in Sat. G1; some turf pedigree.

Raging Market

1/2 sprint SW Anillo (113K, 1-6 at 2, 0-2 turf) by 15% 2yo, 15% turf sire; sprint winner (132K, 0-3 turf) has 4 wnrs/5 rnrs (2-5 with 2yos, 1-5 turfers); dam full SW Missionary Monk (334K, 1-12 at 2, 0-3 turf); barn 3-21, $2.52 pst 5 yrs 2yo turf; broke well 9/7 and sat nice pocket trip before even finish; seems to be moving right way; consider.

Perky Kitten

Sire 35-201 (17%) 2yo FTS, 45-271 (17%) 1st-turf; sprint winner (17K) has 1 winner from 1 runner (0-1 with 2yos, 0-1 with turfers); female family multiple G1 SW 2yo Storm Song (1.0M, 4-7 at 2, won debut); barn 3-18 (17%, $2.20 ROI) past 5 years 2yo FTS MSW turf route; 9/15 work matches Volcano Run (83 turf Beyer); expecting a decent showing.

Mygalsal

52K yearling; sire 30-167 (18%) 2yos, 31-133 (23%) turf sire; winning dam (69K) has 3 winners from 4 runners (1-2 with 2yos, 0-3 with turfers); dam 1/2 multiple SW Moonlight Affair (460K, 1-7 at 2, 1-2 turf); barn 1-11 (9%, $1.05 ROI) past 5 years 2yos turf routes; may have moved a bit early when beating 2 of these 9/14; run down late by a promising colt.

Kilted Cowboy

110K short yearling; sire 46-401 (11%) 2yo FTS, 72-513 (14%) 1st-turf; dam won route (7K, 0-1 turf) with 2 winners from 3 runners (0-2 with 2yos, 0-3 with turfers); 2nd dam multiple turf SP Theatriken (France, 22K, 0-3 at 2, 1-9 turf); barn 1-7 (14%, $2.14 ROI) past 5 years 2yo FTS turf (0-4 route); solid turf bloodlines.

Boss Man Mike

47K wnlng, 50K yrlng; 1/2 SP Peninsula (96K, 1-8 at 2, 0-2 turf) by 18% 2yo, 23% turf sire; dam won sprint (16K, 0-2 turf) with 6 wnrs/10 rnrs (2-6 with 2yos, 1-7 turfers); dam 1/2 G1 SW Rubiano (1.2M, 0-1 turf); barn 17%, $1.42 pst 5 yrs 2nd-out 2yos MSW turf route; showed speed, but his pace rival (57-1 shot) continued for 4th after he dropped out.

High Ransom

Sire 14% 2yos, 13% turf sire; 1st starter from unraced dam; dam 1/2 multiple G3 turf SW Sacred Song (England, 167K, 1-1 at 2, 4-8 at two), multiple G2 turf SW Strut the Stage (1.5M, 1-2 at 2, 10-28 turf); barn 6-55 (11%, $2.89 ROI) past 5 years 2yos MSW turf route (0-4 at Keeneland); faced strong field 8/18, but didn't do much running 9/14; must show more.

Tropic of Artie

25K wnlng, 110K yrlng; sire 11% 2yo, 14% turf; dam placed turf (6K) with 2 wnrs/3 rnrs (1-3 with 2yos, 2-3 turfers); dam 1/2 G1 route SW Sarava (1-5 at 2, 0-4 turf); barn 1-16, $0.60 pst 5 yrs 2yo turf MSW route; may have hung 8/24 after pinballing off 34-1 winner stretch; best of 3 pace runners when facing impressive filly 9/14; drop helps this contender.

Arch Pleasure

Sire 15-182 (8%) 2yo FTS, 33-322 (10%) 1st-turf; multiple SW dam (365K, 0-1 at 2, 5-15 turf) has 0 winners from 1 runner; dam 1/2 G3 turf SP In Jest (39K, 1-2 on turf, 1st-turf winner); barn 2-21 (10%, $0.98 ROI) past 5 years 2yo FTS MSW turf route; 9/26 work matches Queenie's Song (48 Beyer Tapeta, entered R3)

Ararat

Sire 25-211 (12%) with 2yos, 10-93 (11%) 1st-turf; unplaced dam (0-2 at 2, 0-2 turf) has 1 winner from 4 runners (1-3 with 2yos, 1-2 with turfers); 2nd dam multiple G2 sprint SW JJ'sdream (1.0M, 3-5 at 2, 0-2 turf); barn 0-11 past 5 years 2yos dirt/turf; pressed next-out 64-Beyer grad Condo Closing before tiring behind next-out 50K SW Jessethemarine. By Dan Illman

Race 7

Ambusher

Steps up seeking her third straight score after running down her peers at a slightly shorter Canterbury downs trip; filly has been working well over synthetic footing for her return to the scene of her key debut effort; she'll catch her toughest field yet in this spot, but she is in career best form and can't be dismissed while stretching back out to the trip of her maiden score.

Ghost Flower

Made up plenty of ground late in the lane to bail out the chalkies at Presque Isle last time, but she did get a pretty hot clip in front of her in that career best Beyer performance; she gets an added half panel here and the pace should at least be honest in here, don't think another top effort is forthcoming in her local debut; siding against the repeat.

Gal About Town

Multiple G2 SP sophomore makes her first start in nearly 9 months after coughing up a clear midstretch lead while going long in a Fairgrounds sophomore stake back in January; she'll go for a new barn in this spot and she's certainly been working like she's ready to roll in her return to the scene of her second out maiden score at a slightly shorter trip; they certainly have more lucrative hopes down the line for this classy filly so it's likely she's not set for her best but it wouldn't be much of a surprise if she returned running; contender.

Sassy Kiss

Lightly raced gal was caught in a wide spot while making a run in her return to the main track last month at Churchill; she's run fast enough to prove a threat from close range if she's set to bounce back in this spot, but she will be tackling synthetic footing for the initial time and she boasts no recent morning moves over the surface; consider.

Tessie Flip

Filly has speed and expect she'll be close to the top early while making her local return in this spot; neither of her cracks over the course were much, though, and she's had her stamina issues so don't think the added trip will help her much; pace factor.

Big Brown Brookski

She's only run a handful of times but hasn't been in a threat in either of her 3 starts since returning from the mid-summer freshening; filly was beaten just 3 lengths at the trip in Canada last month and she wasn't that far off the winner in her debut over the course back in the spring; has some improving to do, but she gets a top pilot and the price should be right.

Brown Eyes Blue

She's a nose shy of going for 4 straight in this spot after running away from entry level allowance runners at Arlington; sophomore is a sharp breaker with sharp early foot but her main pace foe draws inside of her here and that gal may be a little faster from the bell; in her current form she figures a tough foe, but being that each of her wins has come on the front end she'll have to earn this one.

Don't Tell Veda

Outside drawn filly tried stakes peers last time and though she didn't impact the top 3 she did have some trouble at the break; her prior try at Ellis featured the kind of tracking trip she could sit here, though she'll likely find herself further out into the track and she didn't run very well over the footing after breaking poorly here first time out; worth a look. By Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Shanon Nicole

Did some good things when graduating; broke a beat slow and raced in and among horses for most of the way; altered course off heels in the upper straight and came with a determined run to take over with 2F remaining; seems to be moving the right way for high-percentage connections and may work out a good ground-saving, pace-tracking trip.

Courtesan

Barn has sent out some live 2yos this year and this filly beat next-out winner Ketel Twist (67 Beyer dirt) at Saratoga; a bit disappointed that the 3rd-finisher was beaten here on poly at 3/5 on Saturday; has a good amount of tactical speed and may sit a nice trip in the second flight behind what projects to be a solid pace.

Kitten Kaboodle

Perhaps unlikely Spa; well-bet for debut, she steadied along the inside on the far turn; after splitting horses, she came with a good run to outfinish Candy Kitty; bobbled a couple of strides out of gate 8/18 and then was in closest attendance to Candy Kitty as that one set a ridiculously slow pace; couldn't overcome that one's tactical advantage; contender.

Zip On

Earned big number 2 weeks ago; zipped out to clear the field in the early stages, was passed in the upper straight by the favorite and battled back along the inside to rebuff that foe after being bumped several times in the stretch; she is surely fast out of the gate and could make the front here; distance is the question here (by City Zip out of 5.5F winner); factor.

Pretty Fancy

She's shown some zip in both lifetime starts going short and figures to be close to the pace on the stretchout; will likely have to deal with the swift Zip On to her inside, however, and a prolonged battle could sap her stretch stamina; 3 fillies have come back from that 9/11 heat (no top-3 finishes, best Beyer 65)

Zinzay

Looked good winning 1st-out at Saratoga; pulled a little bit going into the first turn, but settled into a tracking position; attacked on the final bend and got the better of odds-on favorite Hillhouse High after a prolonged stretch battle; 700K yearling is already proven at this distance and figures to work out a good trip tracking the early leaders; respect.

Academic Probation

This filly showed some moxie by rallying from well off the pace to defeat nine others at Kentucky Downs; although this represents a good-sized hike up the class ladder, she should get a good amount of pace to attack from the back of the pack; needs a Beyer boost in order to topple this field.

Candy Kitty

Scratched from Sunday's Miss Grillo at BEL to await this; Made an easy lead when defeating Kitten Kaboodle at Spa; boasts a similar profile as barn's Breeders' Futurity winner We Miss Artie (Spa maiden winner before being hung wide in 1st try against stakes competition) don't like that she hopped back to her left lead during the stretch of her last three starts.

Richies Party Girl

Scratched from Friday's Alcibiades on poly to await this; in her most recent start, she hesitated a bit coming out of the gate but soon found herself on the lead; turned back a pair of stiff challenges and got the head bob at the wire; may have to go faster in the early portion of this race, however, and the extra distance is a question mark; has some ability; consider.

Runway Giant

Richies Party Girl had the run of the race on the lead 9/7 at CD, but this filly came with a determined late charge to miss in a true head-bob; acts like this distance will be right up her alley and a good pace should set her up nicely when the real running begins; not out of it. By Dan Illman