KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
Wednesday’s 8TH race was an allowance event for fillies and mares,
three-years-old and upward, going eight furlongs over the Keeneland turf course.
BRIDAL PATH (Alphabet Soup) was sent off as the favorite in the field of nine
and rewarded her backers by rallying from last, closing with a game determined
drive through the stretch to hit the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front. It had
been well over a year since the gray had visited the winner’s circle, but she
has been running consistently as she has hit the board in seven of her last nine
starts.
Goodsprings (Weikiva Springs) took the lead out of the gate, leading the
field until the stretch, but she could not hold off the winner and was forced to
settle for second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Beat the Band (Lord Avie) in third.
There were four sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or
near the pace won three of them. As for the three main track routes, two of
these were won by horses closing from off the pace. In addition to the 8TH race,
there was one additional turf route today which was won in gate-to-wire fashion.
Rafael Bejarano booted home two winners and continues to lead the way in the
jockey standings with eight winners for the meet. Robby Albarado guided home
three today and has sole possession of the second spot with six, two ahead of
Edgar Prado in third.
As for the trainers, J. Larry Jones now holds down the edge with three
winners for the meet, but there are six other trainers hot on his trail with
two winners each.
Horses to Watch
3RD – WIREBENDER (Flight Forty Nine) seems to have benefited from his two
starts over the all weather track at Turfway Park as he entered this claiming
event dead fit. The chestnut vied for the lead through the early stages of the
race, contesting early fractions of :22 and :46 3/5, before continuing on gamely
through the stretch to hit the finish line 2 3/4 lengths clear of the field.
6TH – READY TO TALK (More Than Ready) was content to lay off the pace through
the early stages of this two-year-old filly turf allowance event. Once the field
came off the turn, the bay closed with nice strides through the stretch but
could not run down the front runner who had been on an uncontested lead early.
Ready to Talk crossed the finish line in second, beaten by a nose.
7TH – SOUL SEARCH (A. P. Indy) rallied from off the pace in this allowance
event to provide trainer Neil Howard with the 1,000th win of his career. The
dark bay was content to lay off the pace early through opening fractions of :23
2/5 and :48 1/5 before bulling her way through the pack in the stretch drive to
record an impressive 7 1/2 length victory.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Thursday, October 13
Thurday’s feature is the Bryan Station S. for three-year-olds going eight
furlongs on the grass. T. D. VANCE (Rahy) could prove to be tough to handle in
this event as he is coming off of a victory in the National Museum of Racing
Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga in early August. The bay has reeled off two
stakes victories in a row and holds three wins from five tries on the lawn. REY
DE CAFÉ (Kingmambo) finished three lengths behind T. D. Vance last out in the
Hall of Fame and could be capable of turning the tables with a top effort.
CLASSIC CAMPAIGN (Rahy) has twice come up on the short end of the stick against
Rey De Café but was the victim of troubled trips on both occasions. The gelding
has a win in his only try over the Keeneland grass and Stevens has been enlisted
for the ride, which could be enough to get this one to the wire in front.
Thursday’s forecast calls for plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 70s.
Thursday’s Best Plays
4TH – MAPP HILL (Valid Expectations) will be making his first start since
taking the victory in a claiming event at Arlington Park back in July. The dark
bay tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and his best BRIS Speed ratings are at
the top of the field. The gelding will be taking a bit of a class drop from his
last start, but trainer Asmussen is a solid 25 percent in the “Down One Class”
trainer category and wins 26 percent of the time in the “Winner Last Race”
category.
5TH – BAMMEL (Coronado’s Quest) will be stretching out to a route for the
first time in his two race career after finishing second last out in a
six-furlong maiden special event at Turfway Park. The two-year-old colt posted a
BRIS Speed rating in that event which towers over those whom have started among
this field and his pedigree indicates that he should benefit from the stretch
out. Bammel’s BRIS Pace ratings indicate that he should be on or near the lead
early in this field and still have plenty left for the run to the wire. Asmussen
trains this one as well and wins 22 percent of his starts in the
“Sprint-Sprint-Route” trainer category, adding to the list of things to like.