Keeneland thunders out
of the starting gate for its Fall race meet on Friday with world-class racing on
a new dirt track.
For the first time in its storied history Keeneland will offer a $1 million
race, the Shadwell Turf Mile, on Saturday as part of the opening
Fall Stars Weekend
that features nine graded stakes races with purses totaling $3.6 million. Many
horses bound for the Breeders’ Cup on October 31-November 1 at Santa Anita will
be showcased in Fall Stars stakes as the nation’s most accomplished jockeys and
trainers converge upon Keeneland.
Fall Stars Weekend also features the debut of Keeneland’s new dirt track,
which was installed over the summer. The surface comprises sand, silt and clay
native to Kentucky, and features a unique drainage system to collect and
discharge water away from the track. Conversion of the main track from a
synthetic Polytrack surface to a dirt surface began May 19 and construction was
completed on schedule in mid-August.
Fashion Alert, a Todd Pletcher trainee who captured her first two starts
against stakes company in New York, will break from the rail as a field of 13
juvenile fillies go postward in the Grade 1, $400,000
Alcibiades,
the opening day feature over 1 1/16 miles.
A daughter of Old Fashioned, Fashion Alert flashed speed in both outings,
taking the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria at Belmont by 4 3/4 lengths on June 14. Five
weeks later, the bay dueled and then drew off to take the six-furlong
Schuylerville by 1 1/2 lengths over Take Charge Brandi, who reappears here after
consecutive fifth-place finishes in the Adirondack and Pocahontas.
The Alcibiades field also includes several sharp debut winners. Top Decile
won by a length at Saratoga for trainer Al Stall Jr. going 6 1/2 furlongs, while
Taylor S enters off a strong 3 3/4-length score at Churchill Downs for Dale
Romans over the same distance. Darley, the sponsor of the Alcibiades, will be
represented by homebred Innovative Idea, who won for fun by 4 1/4 lengths at
Arlington at the same trip last month, but the daughter of Bernardini will need
to make a successful transition from Polytrack to dirt.
Others likely to garner some support are Gap Year, a head third in her
Saratoga debut for Godolphin and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin; Calamity Kate, a
six-length maiden winner at Belmont in her third career start; Pangburn,
runner-up in the Pocahontas at Churchill following a turf maiden win; and Naval
Command, who has won three of four including the Happy Ticket on grass at
Louisiana Downs.
Work All Week, the Illinois-bred hero of the Iowa Sprint Handicap in June
over Grade 2 hero Delaunay, will break outside the other speed in the Grade 3,
$200,000
Phoenix over six furlongs. Although beaten last time in a state-bred stakes
at Arlington, Work All Week is undefeated in eight career starts on dirt.
Also entering the Phoenix on hot streaks are Rainbow Heir, who has won three
in a row including the $130,000 Teddy Drone at Monmouth; Bern Identity, unbeaten
in three outings this term including the $100,000 Dave’s Friend at Laurel last
time; and multiple stakes winner Mr. Baker, who has won four of his last five.
Completing the Phoenix field are Count Fleet Sprint Handicap winner Lemon
Drop Dream, who has been unplaced in his last three starts; Grade 2-placed
stakes-winning three-year-old C. Zee; Saratoga allowance scorer Eastwood; and
stakes veteran Zee Bros, the trailer in last Saturday’s Vosburgh at Belmont.
Both the Alcibiades and Phoenix are Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In”
challenge races — the Alcibiades for the Juvenile Fillies and the Phoenix for
the Sprint.
The Keeneland Fall Meet runs through October 25, with live racing Wednesday
through Sunday. Gates open at 11 a.m. (EDT); post time for the first race is
1:05 p.m.
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