King's preview: Two deep turf allowances

Keeneland has been light on numbers in some types of races this fall, largely mid- to upper-priced claimers on dirt, especially those for older fillies and mares. But that horse shortage apparently does not extend to second-level allowance races for female horses on the grass.

Keeneland “split” that race on entry day, racetrack terminology for making two races, because it significantly overfilled, and as a result, horseplayers are left Thursday with a pair of deep allowance turf races instead of merely one. After an early scratch, the first of the two goes with 10 runners in the sixth race, while 12 remain in the eighth race.

The sixth has European flair, with two fillies – MAGIC OF REALITY (#10, 5-1) and TERRIFIC (#1, 10-1) being first-time U.S. starters coming from Europe – and another, PRINCIPESSA AVA (#7, 9-2) making her second start in the States after starting her career in Europe before winning an allowance at Delaware Park.

The choice is MAGIC OF REALITY. She compiled a 10-2-3-2 record against reasonable company in Britain and now joins the barn of trainer Graham Motion, who is known for early success with such invaders. She also comes off a fast half-mile breeze at Keeneland on Oct. 18 on dirt that drew positive reviews from track clockers.

TWO TO TANGO (#4, 8-1) is the second selection, having just run a close second in her latest at Woodbine, losing by a nose. She has also run two 80 Beyer Speed Figures from four starts on grass in 2014.

The eighth race has all U.S. horses, though it is also a good race, one that SHARE THE SUGER (#12, 5-1) may win if she can carve out a decent trip from post 12. She makes the third start of her current form cycle and rallied to be second to next-out Keeneland winner Bitty Kitty in a rich allowance at Kentucky Downs last month.

SEANCHAI (#3, 12-1) was just three-quarters of a length behind the top choice when third last out at Kentucky Downs but has been stuck in this condition for some time. The preference is to use her underneath in the gimmicks.

HIGH WIRE KITTEN (#10, 6-1) is also interesting if one tosses her stakes failures. Her maiden and allowance form is respectable.

Spot Plays

Race 1: TIZ LATELY (#5, 5-1) run much-improved Beyers in her last two races after blinkers were removed. Admittedly, those races came on synthetic and turf, but she did run reasonably well on dirt at Fair Grounds over the winter and has trained well at Keeneland on the main track. She acts speedy enough to handle being cut back in distance.

Race 9: STURDY ALLAN (#11, 4-1) broke slowly from the fence in his debut at Churchill but recovered to rally to be sixth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths. The fourth- and fifth-place horses returned to win, and this runner comes off a bullet gate drill since.

Early Changes

Race 5
#6 March Too, first start since reported as gelding

Race 6
#2 Distorted Music, scratched

Race 7
#4 My Boy Chisum, scratched

Race 9
#9 Todaymaybetheday, scratched