Breeders’ Cup preview: Keeneland opening day

The Breeders’ Cup is just three weeks away, and a couple of preps will be run on Keeneland’s opening day Friday (10-3-08) card. The First Lady for fillies and mares will be run at a mile on the turf, and the Alcibiades is a mile and a sixteenth Polytrack affair for two-year-old fillies.

The Grade 1 $400k First Lady – One Mile (turf)
There seems to be plenty of pace present with Dreaming of Anna, Roshani, Bayou’s Lassie, and Rosinka. 2-1 favorite Precious Kitten projects a nice ground saving stalking trip, but this race might boil down to a couple of late running New Yorkers, 4-1 Rutherienne and 6-1 Forever Together.

Forever Together beat Rutherienne in the Grade 1 Diana at nine furlongs, and she has earned triple digit ratings in both of her grade one starts. She was an okay 3rd when last seen over yielding ground at Woodbine.

Rutherienne has rallied to finish 3rd in last 4 outings. She reunites with Garrett Gomez, who rides her well, and she has been overbet numerous times while never earning particularly fast speed ratings.

Precious Kitten was a close 2nd in this race last year. She’s capable of huge efforts and has been part of exacta in all five starts at a flat mile. She projects the first run trip.

I have added a replay of the 2008 Grade 1 Diana from the Spa, courtesy of YouTube.

The Grade 1 $500k Darley Alcibiades – 8.5 furlongs (polytrack)

Dream Empress was my selection in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 27th, but trainer Ken McPeek scratched in favor of this spot. She was much improved in 2nd out turf route win with lasix. She was favored in both starts, and barn is 20% turf/synthetic. Note that she owns a couple of Keeneland bullets for this and appears primed to run past this group.

Amanwella owns strong distance breeding with Fusaichi Pegasus on top and Strom Cat on bottom, and the promising maiden exits a clear place finish behind today’s rival Devotee from post 11 at the Spa. Graham Motion is 26% sprint/route.

Be Smart is a $325k Keeneland sales grad out of Derby-Preakness winner Smarty Jones, and she was a surprise $100 first out winner in a 5.5f MSW race at the Spa for D Wayne Lucas. She adds lasix and attracts Garrett Gomez for her initial two turn attempt.

Mani Bhavan won a slow renewal of Saratoga’s Grade 1 Spinaway It took over 14 seconds to cover the final furlong of that seven panel affair. All three of her wins were accomplished in conventional dirt sprints, and today’s Polytrack route is a whole new ballgame for the likely underlay.