Split turf allowances highlight Keeneland card

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No fewer than 26 fillies and mares were entered in a first-level turf allowance Thursday at Keeneland, leading the racing office to split it into a couple of co-features.

It seems like a pretty good move. Highly competitive fields of 13, including one also-eligible per division, are carded as races 5 and 8 on a nine-race program that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Each split is worth as much as $110,000, including bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds. Both races will be run at about 1 1/8 miles on a turf course that should be firm, with neither appearing to have a standout favorite.

After Thursday, Keeneland ends its 17-day fall meet with a combined five stakes Friday and Saturday. Churchill Downs starts its fall meet Sunday.

Race 5

Bravo Kitten keeps knocking on the proverbial door in trying to make it through her first condition, and she looks as good as any in this first division. Beaten just a neck at this same level at Kentucky Downs last month, she’ll be turning back from a slightly longer distance when Gerardo Corrales climbs aboard for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

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Ken Ramsey, the all-time leading owner in Keeneland history in wins and meet titles, bred Bravo Kitten in partnership with his late wife, Sarah Ramsey. The 3-year-old filly was sired by the late Kitten’s Joy, the Ramseys’ turf champion of 2004.

Among her top challengers are Under One Sky, exiting the same Sept. 3 race at Kentucky Downs for Eddie Kenneally, and Gal Wonder, who’ll have Joel Rosario aboard when shipping down from Woodbine for Josie Carroll.

Race 8

Elle Est Forte translates to “She Is Strong” from French, although that only rings partially true in the case of the filly who will break from post 1 as perhaps a lukewarm favorite in this second division. Trained by Ian Wilkes, the 4-year-old daughter of Flintshire has won just once while hitting the board on six other occasions from 10 career starts.

Still, her consistency and the likelihood of a ground-saving trip under Corey Lanerie make her a major player. She’ll be looking to overtake Insatiable, who surely will be prominent early, stretching out from turf sprints in her first start in the care of leading trainer Todd Pletcher, along with a couple of longshot front-runners, Thisnameisokay and Ms Merrabel. In the meantime, well-meant contenders such as Personal Best, Lovely Princess, and Pearl Earring all also could be making their bids from midpack or even farther back in what looks like a real scramble.

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