Key Low looks to lead way at Beulah

Key Low will try to take the field wire to wire Saturday in the $55,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial at Beulah Park.

Trained by Shane Meyers, the 4-year-old gelding has led at the first call in every race since Meyers claimed him June 29 at Thistledown. Key Low has run extremely well for Meyers, sporting a 3-1-1 record in 6 attempts.

"The race before we claimed him, he ran early fractions quicker than a really tough starter that day," Meyers said. "He was by Mercer Mill, so I thought we would see if he could go long,"

Meyers takes no great credit for his charge's turn around, chalking it up to racing luck.

"You just never know how a claim will turn out. Sometimes you get lucky and they turn out great like this one," Meyers said. "I took the blinkers off, and it has seemed to help him relax. He has run well for us."

Key Low has yet to win a stakes event but has represented himself well in two stakes tries. In the Governor's Buckeye on Sept. 5, Key Low led until very late, when overtaken by Smarmy and Catlaunch. He finished third that day, beaten only a half-length. In the Best of Ohio Endurance on Oct. 3, Key Low led again early, this time until upper stretch before fading.

Both of those stakes races were at Thistledown and at 1 1/4 miles against registered Ohio-bred company. The Ruff/Kirchberg is contested at 1 1/8 miles for accredited Ohio-breds, a more restrictive category that requires that both a horse's sire and dam be in Ohio.

In between those stakes efforts, Key Low won won an open allowance event Sept. 20 at Presque Isle Downs, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

On Saturday, the gelding has the advantage of running at Beulah, where he has a 5-2-0 record in 11 lifetime starts. Scott Spieth will again ride.