Rain changes complexion of co-features

LEXINGTON, Ky. – All eyes were to the sky to start the week at Keeneland, which was just outside the path of totality for Monday’s eclipse. But those handicapping the midweek cards ought to keep their eyes skyward a bit longer.

The early forecast for the area is for wet weather, with a 69 percent chance of rain on Tuesday increasing to 92 percent Wednesday before giving way to Thursday thunderstorms. The fate of the Thursday card’s two turf features is up in the air.

The card’s eighth race, a $130,000 allowance for older horses who have never won three other-than or have never won four races, does have two solid main-track-only entrants who would come into play with a surface switch – Grade 3 winner Giant Game and multiple stakes winner Hayes Strike. Neither, however, has won on a wet dirt track.

Giant Game won the Grade 3 Cornhusker last summer on the front end – a running style that played well on a fast track opening weekend at Keeneland. He is making his second start off a layoff and will likely move forward from a fitness standpoint.

Hayes Strike was sixth in the Grade 3 Mineshaft on a sloppy track in his first start off a seven-month layoff. He was a much improved second, beaten less than a length, in a fast-track allowance on March 9 at Fair Grounds.

Thursday’s sixth race, a $120,000 allowance for fillies and mares who have never won twice other-than or have never won three races, doesn’t have that level of main-track-only ability. But two of the best fillies in the field have form on less-than-optimum turf if the race does remain on the lawn.

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Papilio won the Grade 2 Appalachian a year ago at Keeneland on a course rated good. Grade 1-placed during the summer in New York, she did finish third over soft turf in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks. She was a good second, beaten a half-length, in her first start of 2024 off a layoff.

Pleasant Passage, making her first start since last August, won the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on yielding turf as a juvenile. She was then second in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.

◗ Wesley Ward, as usual, holds a strong hand in Thursday’s 2-year-old race, with Perfect Shances and Image of Me both training forwardly for the $80,000 maiden for fillies.

Crawford Farms homebred Perfect Shances is from the first crop of their brilliantly fast Shancelot, who is expected to give speed to his offspring. Image of Me is a Ward homebred by his own good juvenile Hootenanny and has plenty of turf breeding. She is likely a Royal Ascot hopeful.

Baytown Amy Rose, trained by Paul McEntee, also represents a freshman sire. She is the first entrant for champion juvenile Game Winner.

◗ Rick Dutrow won with his first starter at Keeneland in more than a decade as Play Good Pay Good won the first race on opening day. Dutrow’s small Keeneland string has two good chances Thursday in a $100,000 maiden special weight.

Cage Match, a half-brother to Dutrow’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio, was second on debut March 9 at Aqueduct. Midway Lights was making up ground to be fourth in the same race after an awkward start and may offer value here.

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