Keeneland opens

Keeneland opens its spring meet on Friday (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) Located in the heart of the Bluegrass, Keeneland begins its 15-day spring race meeting on Friday in Lexington, Kentucky. No racing will be conducted on Mondays, Tuesdays and Easter Sunday. Post time is 1:15 p.m. (EDT). The picturesque track, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, will offer at least one stakes race a day, beginning with the $150,000 Transylvania S. (G3). DAWN OF WAR (Catienus), winner of last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) over Keeneland’s main track, will make his three-year-old and turf debut in the one-mile event. Other contenders include Pasadena S. winner TO SENDER (GB) (King’s Best), trained by Bobby Frankel and to be ridden by Alex Solis, and the Todd Pletcher-trained TOMPEST (Storm Cat), who will be ridden by John Velazquez. The Transylvania is named for the local university that was founded in the late 1700s. Overall, the meet will feature 19 stakes races worth $4,225,000. Of those, nine will be run on the main track, nine on the turf, and one — the $150,000 Royal Chase for the Sport on Kings S. (NSA-G1) on April 21 — over hurdles. Fourteen of the 19 races are graded. Two stakes — the Madison and the Jenny Wiley — each worth $200,000 for fillies and mares four-year-olds and up, have been elevated to Grade 2 status for 2006. The Madison at seven furlongs will be run on April 12, while the Jenny Wiley at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, will be contested on April 15.

On Saturday, three-year-old fillies will parade to the post for the $500,000
Ashland S. (G1). The 1 1/16-mile test serves as an important stepping stone to
the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Division leader BALANCE (Thunder
Gulch), winner of the Las Virgenes S. (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in two
starts this season, is expected to go forth as the favorite in the Ashland.

As usual, the highlight of the meet will be the $750,000 Blue Grass S. (G1)
for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on April 15. Since the track’s inception in
1936, 18 horses have run in the Blue Grass and then gone on to win the Kentucky
Derby (G1). During one 14-year period — from 1959 to 1972 — the race produced
nine winners of the Kentucky Derby. Last year, the third-place finisher in the
Blue Grass, Closing Argument, was a close second in the Derby.

Scheduled two weeks before the Run for the Roses on April 22, the $325,000
Lexington S. (G2) for three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles has become an important
prep race for the Triple Crown. For example, Charismatic, who won the Lexington
in 1999, went on to win the Derby and Preakness S. (G1) before running third in
the Belmont S. (G1).

Other major stakes races include the $250,000 Beaumont S. (G2)
for three-year-old fillies over the Beard Course on April 13; the $250,000 Maker’s Mark Mile
S. (G2) for older horses at one mile on the turf on April 14; and the $400,000
Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) for three-year-olds and upward at seven
furlongs on Blue Grass Day. 

Every Saturday during the meet, Keeneland will host “Breakfast with the
Works” from 7-8:30 a.m. followed by a presentation in the paddock at 8:45.

Other special events include:

“College Day” on opening day. Full-time college students who present a valid college ID
will receive free admission and can register to win a $1,000 scholarship
following each race. In addition, the first 1,000 students to register for a
scholarship will receive a free Keeneland College Scholarship Day T-shirt.

“Hats off to Keeneland” contest on April 21. The grand prize winner will win
an all-expense paid vacation to Jamaica.

New events for the spring meet include:

“Music of the Horse,” a performance by the University of Kentucky Symphony
Orchestra on Ashland Stakes Day, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Keeneland’s walking
ring.

“Budweiser Clydesdales,” a photo opportunity with the world famous horses at
the Grandstand South Gate from noon until 1 p.m. on April 26-27. The Clydesdales
will make a special appearance on the track on closing day, April 28.