LEXINGTON, Ky. – Younger and older maidens provide intriguing opportunities on Sunday’s card at Keeneland, with ideal spring conditions expected as the meet moves into its final days.
The day’s second race is an $80,000 tilt for 2-year-olds at the traditional 4 1/2-furlong early-season maiden distance. Wesley Ward, who is known with his prowess with this division, unveils the John Oxley homebred Dreamaway.
Trainer Butch Reid has already won three stakes races this year.
Uncle Heavy took down the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and is on the Kentucky Derby bubble. Jeanne Marie returned from a lengthy layoff to win Parx Racing’s Main Line and was entered in last Saturday’s Weber City Miss at Laurel. Disco Ebo captured Laurel’s Primonetta earlier in the month.
That just might be the beginning for Reid as multiple stakes winner Morning Matcha makes her 5-year-old debut in Monday’s $100,000 Unique Bella for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares traveling seven furlongs at Parx.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Skippylongstocking leads a barrage of Florida shippers in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday, a race that also drew Reincarnate and Highland Falls out of the Santa Anita Handicap and Red Route One off a win in the New Orleans Classic.
It’s a strong mix of older runners for the fourth and final seven-figure race of the meet. The Oaklawn Handicap, which will be run over 1 1/8 miles, tops a 12-race card.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s initial reaction when asked to comment on the return of Lord Miles and Prairie Hawk was “It’s time to get them back started.” Lord Miles and Prairie Hawk, who were on the 2023 Kentucky Derby trail this time a year ago, will launch their 4-year-old campaigns simultaneously in Saturday’s $62,000 main event at Gulfstream Park.
The seven-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up lured a field of 10 that includes Shaq Diesel, who also was considered a potential Derby prospect a year ago.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Be on the lookout for some new Bond sequels.
Kevin and Ryan Bond, the sons of trainer H. James Bond, are both going out on their own this spring. Kevin Bond, 36, already has his license and was scheduled to have his first starter Friday at Aqueduct. Ryan Bond, 33, is in the midst of completing the licensing process. Both have worked as assistants for their father for several years.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Blazing Sevens, beaten a head by National Treasure in last year’s Preakness, will make his 4-year-old debut in a second-level allowance going a mile on Saturday.
Blazing Sevens hasn’t run since July 21, when he finished third as the 3-5 favorite in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.
“In hindsight, when he got to Saratoga, he really wasn’t moving great, or as well as he could have been going and actually in the race he was even worse,” trainer Chad Brown said.
LAUREL, Md. – Shimmering Allure gets some class relief at Laurel Park on Saturday when she starts as the likely favorite in the $125,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Shimmering Allure finished sixth of eight when facing Kentucky Oaks-bound fillies Leslie’s Rose and champion Just F Y I in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Ashland on April 5.
“We felt like she deserved a chance in the Ashland,” McPeek said. “She didn’t run terrible, but this is back to reality and a pretty good spot.”
Keeneland is the boutique meet of the moment, and they do have two stakes Saturday. Bold Act is going to win the Elkhorn, but this space’s last foray into odds-on favoritism landed on Deterministic in the Wood. I don’t think Kingsbarns is going to win the Bel Ali but don’t know who will. Three other races at different venues feel more promising.
Oaklawn Handicap
