King: Three intriguing price plays Saturday at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Although the Grade 2 Elkhorn is the headliner Saturday at Keeneland, led by Zulu Alpha, a winner of three graded races from his last four starts, other races offer more wagering appeal on the 10-race card.

The fourth race, a 1 1/8-mile turf allowance, drew Lamartine, a two-time South American Group 1 winner making his first start in the U.S. After twice winning on heavy ground in Brazil, he might find the conditions on Saturday similar to what he experienced in South America. Rain is forecast for central Kentucky on Friday and Saturday, potentially resulting in tiring, wet ground.

Lamartine’s workouts seem to indicate he is approaching the race in top condition. His new trainer, Steve Asmussen, breezed him as far as three-quarters in March at Fair Grounds, followed by shorter moves this month.

A 6-1 shot on the morning line, he realistically should be half that price in a six-horse field.

Also interesting is the 10th race, a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs that attracted a number of promising 3-year-olds with limited experience. Where Paradise Lay and Fortune’s Fool are the morning-line favorites after runner-up finishes at Gulfstream Park.

As nice as their form is, Into Morocco intrigues me at his 8-1 morning line. Fourth at Fair Grounds in his debut, he has picked up his training pace with a pair of quick works at Churchill Downs this month, topped by a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.40 last Saturday for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Debuting runners Highest Honors and Strong Market and the second-time starter Phantom Currency also have registered swift breezes, leading me to believe this race could develop into a key race.

Favorites are delivering

The wagering depth in the final race Saturday has unfortunately been lacking in many main-track races at the meet, which has contributed to a high percentage of favorites being successful. Through Wednesday, dirt favorites were 37 for 68 (54 percent).

So often, horses have stood out at this meet, resulting in short-priced favorites winning.

Turf racing has been more typical, with favorites winning 8 of 25 races (32 percent).

Ward has Ascot prospects

Nayibeth gets my vote as the top 2-year-old unveiled here this spring. In addition to posting the fastest time of the meet for 4 1/2 furlongs – covering the distance in 51.54 seconds in winning Wednesday’s fifth race – she made a positive impression. A daughter of Carpe Diem, she pulled clear by 4 1/4 lengths down the lane under jockey Joel Rosario, flicking an ear or two forward, an indication she was not being fully extended.

Nayibeth ran more than a second faster than stablemate Chili Petin did in winning a maiden race over the same distance an hour earlier in 52.65 seconds.

Both fillies have grass influences in their pedigrees. Nayibeth is a half-sister to Soldat, winner of the Grade 3 With Anticipation on turf in 2010 in addition to winning the Fountain of Youth on dirt at 3, and Chili Petin is by City Zip and out of the Dynaformer mare Cat’s Claw, who won the 1 1/2-mile Waya on grass at Saratoga in 2014.

They look like prime candidates for Royal Ascot for trainer Wesley Ward.

Back so soon? Glad to see you

As we gear up for the close of the meet – just three days of racing remain after Saturday – it may be time to back quick returnees. Such types have historically done well at Keeneland, with a start over the surface offsetting the short rest.

Sergio, a 5-1 shot in the sixth race, was fourth at the meet in what seemed like a superior claiming race, and though his recent form has been established in sprints, not at the 1 1/8 miles of Saturday’s race, he routed earlier in his career.