Three turf allowances for Thursday threatened by rain

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Keeneland turf has dodged a bullet or two this month. Despite steady rain and a yielding course here Saturday, both turf races were held as scheduled, meaning that not a single race has been transferred to the dirt because of weather at the spring meet.

It remains to be seen whether that perfect record can be maintained through the final two days of the 15-day spring meet. After more nice weather here Tuesday and Wednesday, rain was in the forecast for Thursday and Friday, when a plethora of turf races are on tap.

Four of the nine Thursday races are scheduled for turf, including all three allowances that serve as co-features. Clearly, these races will be much more enjoyable for horseplayers if conditions permit their staying on turf, so hopefully that’s what will happen.

Here’s a quick rundown of those features:

Race 2: Hunter O’Riley earned a field-high Beyer Speed Figure (98) when sixth at 43-1 in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight in late January at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jimmy Toner, and a drop in class should make him one of the favorites in a field of eight entered in this $74,000, second-level allowance.

Other contenders include Scorch, who marks the first starter in Kentucky for trainer Michael Dickinson since 2007; Grey Wizard, scratched Saturday from the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes; and Patrick’s Day, who was favored in his last four starts and now adds jockey Javier Castellano.

Race 6: Manitoulin, from one of the great Darby Dan Farm families, returns from a five-month layoff for Toner in what shapes up as a very well-matched first division of a $72,000, first-level race at 1 1/8 miles. Manitoulin, a son of 1999 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Soaring Softly, will be ridden by Florent Geroux as one of the likely choices in a field of 10 4-year-olds and up.

Race 8: Mutazen returns to his preferred surface and will have Jose Lezcano aboard from the rail post in a field of 11 in the second split of the $72,000, first-level allowance. The 5-year-old gelding was a sharp maiden winner on the Gulfstream turf in February for Kiaran McLaughlin, who tied a Keeneland record by winning four races on the April 15 card.

As for Friday, the highlight of the 10-race closing-day card also is set for turf. It’s the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile race for fillies and mares. First post for the last two days is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Churchill Downs opens its spring meet Saturday night. Churchill is dark Sunday and Monday, with Kentucky Derby week running Tuesday through May 6.