King preview: Yielding turf for Sunday races

Despite wet, cool weather in recent days, racing remains on the turf for Sunday’s races at Keeneland – at least as of this writing Sunday morning. Track officials are calling the grass yielding after it was soft for Saturday’s races.

The quick-drying Keeneland main track is fast.

With the races staying on the grass today, EMOTIONAL KITTEN (#1, 5-2) looks tough to stop in the featured ninth race, a money allowance at 1 1/16 miles on grass. A graded stakes winner, she hasn’t raced in an allowance since spring 2013 – 11 starts ago – when she won at Keeneland as a 3-year-old.

She also likes give in the ground. She won the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere last year on “good” turf at Churchill Downs.

NORTHERN PASSION (#6, 8-1) is another filly with a win on “good” turf, though she might be a little better racing on synthetic than on grass. She still should appreciate a class drop, coming off a close sixth in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters.

Spot plays

Race 2: ELECTRIC TEMPTRESS (#3, 5-1) likely needed a comeback race Sept. 26 at Churchill when sixth in a starter allowance after a slow break. This one is eligible to move forward second off the bench and with a drop into $20,000 claiming.

Race 3: BABY FRESH (#3, 5-1) ambitiously was placed in a pair of rich stakes at Churchill and Kentucky Downs. She now is returned to the starter ranks and looks ready for a much more competitive race.

Race 5: DYNAMIC DECISION (#9, 4-1) makes his third start of his current form cycle and owns quality Beyers. He worked smartly over the dirt here leading up to this race. Grass is his preferred surface.

Race 7: NICKLAUS WAY (#8, 7-2) enters this race in fine allowance/stakes form, earning Beyers in the low 90s in two of those three runs. He may have a fitness edge over the comebacking favorite SCHIVARELLI.

Early scratches

Race 5: # 12 Royal Warrant

Race 6: #1 Alazano