Spring Reason likely to be right there in Keeneland feature

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The last time Spring Reason raced on the Keeneland turf, she was beaten a nose on opening weekend of the 2014 spring meet at 30-1, surely frustrating a few of her scattered backers.

In the last six-plus months, an unusual pattern of getting beaten in very tight photos has unfolded for the mare. The 5-year-old homebred did win once during that six-race span but finished second the other five times, including twice by a nose and once by a head.

Well, at least she always seems to be part of the picture – and once again, Spring Reason should figure in the mix when the nominal feature is run Wednesday on the Keeneland turf, a $60,000, second-level allowance at 1 3/16 miles. Courtesan, Magic of Reality, and Kitten’s Queen are among the other logical contenders in the seventh of eight races.

One other allowance (race 6) also is carded for Wednesday, which, as the ninth of 17 programs, marks the midpoint of the Keeneland fall meet. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 4:11 and the last race going at 4:42.

KEY CONTENDERS

Courtesan (Last 3 Beyers: 76-70-74)

◗ A lightly raced (of late) 3-year-old facing older, she’ll nonetheless garner her share of tote action, mostly because Keeneland bettors tend to find Christophe Clement runners difficult to resist.

◗ She hasn’t raced in nearly four months but does show a steady work pattern at Saratoga in recent weeks; a lifetime-best effort off the bench shouldn’t necessarily surprise anyone.

Magic of Reality (Last 3 Beyers: N/A)

◗ One of those first-Lasix Euro shippers making her first U.S. start for the Niarchos family, she’s clearly the wild card of the field with those tough-to-decipher races in England.

◗ Trainer Graham Motion: “She shipped to me in early September. This seemed like a good spot to get her started.”

Kitten’s Queen (Last 3 Beyers: 81-84-82)

◗ Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred has been quite consistent since coming under Mike Maker’s care, knocking out a first-level allowance at Saratoga before finishing a decent third for this same condition in her latest start.

◗ The Ramseys, as usual, lead all owners at this meet in starts (21 through last weekend) and are intent on wearing down everyone else with those numbers. They won the Sunday feature with another nice Kitten’s Joy filly, Emotional Kitten.

Spring Reason (Last 3 Beyers: 71-70-69)

◗ Beyer Speed Figures suggest she might not match up with some of these others, but those races came over the tricky-to-gauge Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs this summer; her big effort on turf here last spring (84 Beyer) should be of greater consideration, shouldn’t it?