Set the Sail positioned favorably on inside in Thursday turf feature
LEXINGTON, Ky. – With 17 stakes at its fall meet, Keeneland averages precisely one stakes a day. But with multiple stakes on some days, that means some programs go without – and Thursday is the first such card at the 17-day meet.
Back-to-back allowances anchor a modest (by Keeneland standards) nine-race Thursday program, with a $66,000, classified allowance serving as the nominal feature. Carded as race 7, the 1 1/8-mile turf race figures to have Set the Sail and Coalport as favorites in a field of nine older horses, with Margano, Joha, and Bad Debt among the other threats.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Joha. Trainer Mike Maker is 37-12-1-3 with a $2.93 ROI over the past year going from synthetic to turf in routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Set the Sail, trained by Charlie LoPresti of Wise Dan fame, comes favorably drawn to the rail after being awarded victory by disqualification in a similar race on the last Saturday of the Saratoga meet. Shaun Bridgmohan has the call.
The eighth race is a $58,000, first-level allowance at the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet. Rocket Time, regrouped by Al Stall Jr. after a disappointing effort on the second weekend of Saratoga, should be the horse to beat with Calvin Borel riding.
First post Thursday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the seventh set for 4:11 and the eighth at 4:42.
The next Keeneland stakes comes Friday with the $100,000 Franklin County for filly and mare turf sprinters.
KEY CONTENDERS
Set the Sail (Last 3 Beyers: 92-82-81)
◗ A gray gelding with tractable speed, he figures forwardly in a race that doesn’t seem to have much pace. In that last win via disqualification, when he was “kissed in” because the first-place finisher interfered with the third finisher, he was entered for an $80,000 claiming option.
Margano (Last 3 Beyers: 93-82-80)
◗ Owned by the Lael Stables of Barbaro fame, this homebred gelding jumped up to win a $200,000 stakes at Parx last out in his second start off a layoff for easily the richest victory and the highest Beyer Speed Figure of his 22-race career.
Joha (Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-91)
◗ Winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on the Keeneland Polytrack in 2012 for Mike Maker, this one was bet down late to be a surprise favorite before running creditably last month in the $200,000 Presque Isle Mile after returning to the Maker fold.
Coalport (Last 3 Beyers: 98-86-75)
◗ This Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred was unfortunate to have his number taken down in an unlisted stakes on the Super Derby undercard, but the good news is he continues to be extremely competitive in the upper allowance ranks and smaller stakes on grass.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Coalport. Trainer Mike Maker is 14-1-1-1 with a $0.48 ROI over the past five years in Keeneland turf routes with Rosie Napravnik aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Bad Debt (Last 3 Beyers: 72-91-93)
◗ The leading earner in the lineup with almost $750,000 in the bank, he was claimed back for a cut-rate price by Mike Trombetta at Saratoga after David Jacobson essentially rented him for one race. He’s a real pro with a 12-11-12 record from 45 career turf starts.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Bad Debt. Trainer Michael Trombetta is 11-0-1-2 over the last five years in turf races first after a claim. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan