Training hours get busy as meet nears open

A week removed from opening day Friday, the Keeneland barn area is beginning to fill up, and horses are prepping for upcoming races with breezes over the Keeneland dirt track. Fifty-four horses recorded works Friday at Keeneland, with horses from the stables of trainers Wesley Ward, Ian Wilkes, and Nick Zito particularly active.

Among those working for Wilkes were Gorgeous Bird, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01 in company with the older stakes winner Neck n’ Neck, and Silverpocketsfull, who covered five furlongs in 1:00.80. Gorgeous Bird is expected for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes, while Silverpocketsfull is considered probable for the Grade 1 Ashland on the same card.

With clear skies in the forecast Saturday and Sunday in Kentucky, the number of horses breezing is likely to grow this weekend, with numerous stakes horses likely to hit the track.

Next Saturday is quite likely to offer one of the best spring racing programs in Keeneland history. Besides the Blue Grass and Ashland, the card includes the Grade 1 Madison as well as the Grade 3 Commonwealth and Grade 3 Shakertown.

In years past, the Blue Grass fell later in the meet, but it was moved up this year to four weeks before the Kentucky Derby. The change in dates, as well as the track replacing its Polytrack surface with dirt last year, has made it a more significant Derby prep.

Carpe Diem, among the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby, is pointed for the Blue Grass. Others considered likely for the race include the aforementioned Gorgeous Bird, Classy Class, Danzig Moon, Frammento, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Pepper Roani, Rock Shandy, Toasting Master, and Unrivaled.

In addition to Silverpocketsfull, the Ashland is expected to draw Achiever’s Legacy, Angela Renee, Lassofthemohicans, Lovely Maria, Peace and War, Sweet Swingin, Temper Mint Patty, and West Coast Belle.