Breeders’ Cup preview: Keeneland graded races – Saturday, October 4, 2008
October 4, 2008 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Breeders' Cup, Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks, Trainers
Dream Empress punched her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with a sharp off the pace tally in Friday’s Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland, and D Wayne Lucas 2nd timer Be Smart was a clear 2nd and is a likely Santa Anita participant as well. Below is the replay, courtesy of YouTube.
Forever Together powerfully mowed down Precious Kitten in Friday’s other BC prep, the flat mile First Lady for grassy fillies and mares. Below is the replay, courtesy of YouTube.
Now, let’s glance at Saturday’s Cup preps…
Grade 3 Phoenix – six furlongs (polytrack)
Six of the 12 entrants are multiple synthetic winners, not including 2-1 fav Talent Search. Plenty of pace in the paper race could set things up for an off the pace type. Carnacks Choice is the lone local winner, and he is 2-2 in Keeneland synthetic sprints.
The $150k Woodford – 5.5 furlongs (turf)
This is not a graded affair, but it could produce a few starters for the new BC Turf sprint at 6.5f over Santa Anita’s downhill course. Smart Enough is a classy turf sprinter with 10 wins in 16 starts, and the fresh gelding is only making his 2nd start this year.
Grade 1 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity – 8.5 furlongs (polytrack)
Wide open two-year-old route has attracted 11 horses, with Todd Pletcher’s Advice the tepid 7-2 fav. Ken McPeek won the filly edition of this race on Friday. He does not have one in here, but his winning turf/synthetic angle is present with Bill Mott’s Pioneerof the Nile.
Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile – 8 furlongs (turf)
Shakis drew the rail and is the 7-2 fav, but all of his US wins have come at 9 furlongs, and he might come up a tad short at a sharp flat mile. Thorn Song is probably the one to catch, and classy Woodbine shipper Rahy’s Attorney must work out a trip from the outside post.
Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America – six furlongs (polytrack)
Sugar Swirl is the 3-1 favorite, and she does own a synthetic win, but she did lose this race last year and could get overbet. Indyanne will attempt a wire job from the rail, and Wild Gams is the defending champ.
