King's preview: Return to (wet) dirt

Friday marks the return of racing at Keeneland with the start of the fall meet, and more notably, a return to dirt racing after years of having a synthetic Polytrack surface.

Horseplayers are advised to keep close tabs on the weather and how it may affect the condition of both the main track and turf course. As of Friday morning, rain was falling in Lexington, though it is expected to taper off in the early afternoon.

The new dirt surface is called “state of the art” by Keeneland – and the rain should be a test for how it handles water.

Phoenix and Alcibiades highlight opening-day card

The Phoenix, a six-furlong sprint, goes as race 8 with a 4:42 p.m. Eastern post time. My choice is Work All Week (#8, 7-2), a winner of 10 for 13, admittedly against lesser company. This handicapper’s hope is that he may get a bit overlooked because so many of his races have come in Illinois.

Other major players include another win machine in Rainbow Heir (#4, 3-1), who comes to Keeneland by way of New Jersey, where he has dusted statebred competition, and Bern Identity (#2, 4-1), a Grade 2 winner as a juvenile who has gone 3 for 3 at age 4 in 2014.

Following the Phoenix is the Alicibiades, race 9, with a post time of 5:13. A deep field of 13 is entered.

Although Gap Year (#13, 8-1) drew the outside, not a good draw with a short run to the first turn going 1 1/16 miles, she still is my pick based on what she did in her debut at Saratoga Aug. 22. She broke slowly that day and raced greenly, but kicked into gear to finish a third in a blanket photo, and now trainer Kiaran McLaughlin shows confidence in her to ship her from New York to run in a Grade 1 stakes.

Fashion Alert (#1, 4-1) would have been the selection if she had not drawn the fence, but from the rail post, she may have to utilize her position and there are plenty of other speed horses to go with her early. And if that scenario unfolds, it could help a horse like the late-running Pangburn (#8, 5-1), who is one of the few proven stayers in this lineup.

Spot plays

Race 4: Nun the Less (#9, 4-1), a Candy Ride colt, twice ran well at Arlington, finishing second at first asking and then returning with a blowout six-length win on the Poly there. He is untested on grass, but trainer Chris Block is 9 for 21 with turf starters at Keeneland over the last five years, per Formulator.

Race 6: Politicallycorrect (#5, 7-2) is a rare Kitten's Joy offspring that is better on dirt than turf. A graded stakes dropper, he is a late runner who likes long sprints, and the 6 1/2 furlongs of this race suits him.