Next start undecided for Top Billing

Top Billing closed stoutly when beaten a nose by Noble Bird in a second-level allowance here last Wednesday, and he might run back for the same condition or could jump back into stakes company, said trainer Shug McGaughey.

“We’ll wait and see,” said McGaughey.

It was the second start since a one-year layoff for Top Billing, a 4-year-old Curlin colt whose campaign toward the 2014 Kentucky Derby was cut short by injury. He earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in this latest effort.

◗ Seven have been entered for the Grade 3 Transylvania on Wednesday at Keeneland, but Divisidero is not among them. Divisidero came down with a lung infection that trainer Buff Bradley described as “not bad” and will be pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 American Turf on the May 2 Kentucky Derby undercard.

◗ Flashy American is among the likely starters for the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile filly-mare race to be run Friday. Entries were to be taken Tuesday.

◗ The Saturday feature is the Grade 2, $250,000 Elkhorn at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Unitarian, the 2014 winner who is trained by Todd Pletcher, is among about nine older horses expected by the Keeneland racing office. Entries will be drawn Wednesday.

◗ As the 15-day spring meet hits its midpoint Wednesday, Javier Castellano and Todd Pletcher are atop their respective categories in wins – just as they were at the recent championship meet at Gulfstream Park.
Castellano leads all jockeys with nine wins, with Shaun Bridgmohan and Brian Hernandez Jr. tied for second with five. Pletcher leads Kiaran McLaughlin by a 7-6 count among trainers. McLaughlin has been particularly hot, having been represented by just 10 starters.

◗ Pletcher assistant Tristan Barry said Carpe Diem is tentatively scheduled to work Sunday at Keeneland, marking his first work since a three-length victory in the April 4 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. The colt then will join the rest of the Pletcher contingent shipping in from Florida the following Tuesday, April 21, in moving over to Churchill Downs, where he will have his final work for the Kentucky Derby.

◗ The Wednesday card at Keeneland is a good one, with three allowances (races 3, 6, 7) preceding the Transylvania. The sixth is particularly strong: it’s a $66,000 classified turf mile that drew stakes winners Grand Arch, Mr Speaker, Sayaad, and Sky Captain among a field of 12.

◗ The closing of the Oaklawn Park meet is evident in the Keeneland entries this week, perhaps most notably by the presence of Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, who has one mount on both the Wednesday and Thursday cards.