Mountaineeer Mile a tricky 11-horse puzzle

If your Breeders’ Cup betting plans don’t pan out Saturday, all is not lost. Get yourself a set of Mountaineer Racetrack past performances, turn to race 7, and take one more swing.

The $130,000 Mountaineer Mile is scheduled for 9:12 p.m. Eastern, 37 minutes after the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It is an 11-horse head-scratcher with top contenders shipping in from Kentucky, New York, and Maryland.

The pace scenario is tricky. The ThistleDown-based Sir Lowry’s Pass should be on the lead. The 6-year-old has won five of his last six starts for trainer Joshua Faulkner. This will be his 26th career start and stakes debut.

Good Lord should be tracking Sir Lowry’s Pass early, but you have to wonder how aggressive he will be since a mile has always been a little beyond his best distance. In 62 career starts dating to 2009, Good Lord has two wins around two turns. He won this race and the seven-furlong Wild and Wonderful at Charles Town in 2012.

Still, with a soft pace expected, it may be wise to include both in your exotics.

Mountaineer Mile, race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Dawly (Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-90)

Will be making his first start for Bruce Brown after being claimed for $80,000 from Rudy Rodriguez out of a winning effort Oct. 11.

His recent optional-claiming win was the fifth this year for the 6-year-old. In all, he has won 11 of 36 starts and $567,000.

Runs from off the pace.

A quick look at Dawly’s claiming history with Rodriguez: December 2010, claimed him for $50,000; August 2011, lost him for $75,000; December 2012, claimed him for $15,000; October 2014, lost him for $80,000.

Page McKenney (Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-NA)

Has won five of his last six starts for Maryland-based trainer Mary Eppler, working his way through his allowance conditions and into minor stakes.

Enters off an easy win in the slop at Parx in the $75,000 First Responder Stakes.

This is the first time he has been entered in a dirt race since December 2013. Has been entered for turf in his last nine starts, but five of them have been transferred to the main track. He is 5 for 5 in dirt races in his last 9 starts and 4-1-1-1 on turf.

Will likely be in midpack early.

Leadem in Ken (Last 3 Beyers: 87-84-87)

Has one win in his last six starts, all in stakes.

Has made his last six starts for owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker at Sam Houston, Fonner Park, Prairie Meadows, Gulfstream Park, Arapahoe, and Indiana Grand.

Must overcome post 11.

Voodoo Storm (Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-88)

Won this race last year as the 8-5 favorite but has not won in 11 starts since and will be a much longer price Saturday for trainer Tim Glyshaw.