Mr. Jenney should be fit for allowance feature
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’s not quite like the Extreme Race Day that Canterbury Park has held for the last eight years, but the Thursday card at Keeneland is definitely out of the ordinary – by Keeneland standards, anyway.
Races 2 through 4 on the nine-race program feature maidens going the infrequently run distance of 1 3/16 miles. Two allowances also will be run at longer distances, including the race-8 feature at 1 1/2 miles on turf. And for the first time in recent memory, there will be more than one “baby” race on a Keeneland card, with the second of those two 4 1/2-furlong races occupying an unusual spot as the last race of the day.
The nominal feature is a $62,000, second-level allowance that drew a full field of older horses, with Mr. Jenney and Heyaarat among the probable favorites in a very well-matched group of 12.
Wesley Ward, as always, figures prominently in the two 2-year-old races, with Finnegan sure to attract major action in race 5 and Wonderful Remark and Iron in the Fire dividing the chalk players as an uncoupled Ward entry in race 9.
Thursday marks the 14th of 15 cards at this spring meet, with first post set for 1:05 p.m. Eastern. The Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes will highlight the closing-day program Friday.
ALLOWANCE (RACE 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Mr. Jenney (Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-88)
◗ Turf master Christophe Clement has gotten 11 works at Payson Park into this 5-year-old horse since early February, so fitness probably isn’t a major concern despite a layoff of nearly 11 months.
Heyaarat (Last 3 Beyers: 89-77-76)
◗ This well-bred colt ran huge in his recent comeback at Gulfstream Park for Lexington native Kiaran McLaughlin, who has enjoyed a sensational Keeneland meet by winning with seven of his first 14 starters.
Innovation Economy (Last 3 Beyers: 83-77-77)
◗ This Dynaformer colt has had 10 works since early February in being prepared by Chad Brown for his first race since romping to a first-level optional-claiming score over the Aqueduct turf in November.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Innovation Economy. Trainer Chad Brown is 22-2-6-1 with a $0.60 ROI over the past five years in turf routes of 12 furlongs and longer. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Xtra Luck (Last 3 Beyers: 88-77-78)
◗ This Florida-bred gelding broke through with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure on closing weekend of the Fair Grounds meet for Neil Howard and figures among the pace players given the longer distance of this race.
Daddy’s Kid (Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-85)
◗ This late-running type has been keeping graded company of late after stringing together a three-race win streak last year and figures to appreciate a measure of class relief here.
Perfect Timber (Last 3 Beyers: 77-82-92)
◗ This turf-marathon specialist has been sent through 11 recorded workouts since late December by Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, although his slow-to-get-moving running style suggests he might need this as a warm-up.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Buck Benny. Trainer Graham Motion is 19-7-0-2 with a $5.55 ROI over the past five years in turf routes of 12 furlongs and longer at Keeneland. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan