Keeneland Barn Notes April 1

By Amy Gregory —-

Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet opens Friday, April 7, and concludes Friday, April 28, with racing on Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day
is 1:05 p.m. ET. Keeneland will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 16.

• VALADORNA WORKS 5 FURLONGS IN 1:00.80 FOR CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND
• UNDEFEATED McCRAKEN SLATED TO WORK SUNDAY MORNING FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS
• GALLOPING OUT
• OPENING WEEKEND PROBABLE STAKES FIELDS
• “KEENELAND MAGAZINE ON TV” AIRS SUNDAY AND THURSDAY

VALADORNA WORKS 5 FURLONGS IN 1:00.80 FOR CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND

Stonestreet Stables’ Valadorna, one of the leading contenders for next Saturday’s $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.80 over a fast main track Saturday morning at Keeneland.

With exercise rider Jerome Lermyte aboard, Valadorna started about a length in back of Malibu Bonnie, a 3-year-old maiden, drew even on the turn and finished a head in front at the wire before galloping out far ahead of her workmate.

“It was a typical work for her,” said David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “We are very happy with it. She is very workmanlike, not flashy.”

Valadorna, who broke her maiden here last fall and then finished second in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita, spent the winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans with Carroll.

“She is physically stronger and has filled out,” Carroll said. “She has always been laid back and that is why she is never flashy in the morning.”

Third in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) on Feb. 25 in her most recent start, Valadorna will be partnered in the Central Bank Ashland by regular rider Julien Leparoux.

“Maybe she didn’t get as much out of her first race back,” Carroll said of the 2017 debut prior to the Rachel Alexandra. “But everything is geared to the first Friday in May (for the Kentucky Oaks-G1) and she is going to have to step forward.”

UNDEFEATED McCRAKEN SLATED TO WORK SUNDAY MORNING FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS

Trainer Ian Wilkes said Whitham Thoroughbreds’ undefeated McCraken would work Sunday morning after the renovation break for next Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2).

“It looks like the rain is going to start early Monday, so we will go ahead and work tomorrow,” said Wilkes, whose initial preference was to work Monday.

McCraken, who has had two works here since arriving in mid-March from South Florida, will have regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard for the work.

On Saturday morning after the break, McCraken galloped with regular exercise rider Yoni Orantes aboard.

Also scheduled to work Sunday morning after the break for the Toyota Blue Grass is It’s Your Nickel for two-time Toyota Blue Grass winning trainer Kenny McPeek.

Owned by Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Scott Akman and Nehoc Stables, It’s Your Nickel enters the Toyota Blue Grass off a victory in the John Battaglia Memorial on March 4 at Turfway Park.

Alan Shell, assistant to McPeek, said Jack Gilligan would be aboard for Sunday’s scheduled 5-furlong work and James Graham will have the mount in the Toyota Blue Grass.

It’s Your Nickel galloped after the break Saturday on the main track under Pablo Portes.

Two other Toyota Blue Grass horses on the grounds galloped Saturday morning.

Calumet Farm’s Wild Shot, trained by Rusty Arnold, galloped before the break on the main track with exercise rider Jozafat Calvo up. Wild Shot is scheduled to work Monday or Tuesday.

Reddam Racing’s Irap galloped on the all-weather training track under Antonio Romero for trainer Doug O’Neill.

GALLOPING OUT

Limousine Liberal, the Keeneland track record holder for 6½ furlongs, drilled 5 furlongs in :58.40 after the break Saturday morning in preparation for a probable start in next Saturday’s $250,000 Commonwealth (G3) at 7 furlongs.

Owned by Katherine Ball and trained by Ben Colebrook, Limousine Liberal posted fractions of :22.80, :34 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20.

Limousine Liberal has not raced since being placed fourth in the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita in November.

OPENING WEEKEND PROBABLE STAKES FIELDS

$150,000 TRANSYLVANIA (G3) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT (Entries close Monday; Race Friday April 7) – Big Score, Bird Is the Word, Bird’s Eye View, Cowboy Culture, Horse Fly, Oscar Performance, Profiteer, Sonic Boom, Ticonderoga.
$1,000,000 TOYOTA BLUE GRASS (G2) (Entries close Tuesday; Race Saturday, April 8) – Irap, It’s Your Nickel, J Boys Echo, McCraken, Practical Joke, Tapwrit, Wild Shot.
$500,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) (Entries close Tuesday; Race Saturday, April 8) – Daddys Lil Darling, Elate, Pretty City Dancer, Valadorna. Possible: Princess Karen, Tapa Tapa Tapa.
$300,000 MADISON (G1) (Entries close Tuesday; Race Saturday, April 8) – Clothes Fall Off, Constellation, High Ridge Road, Mines and Magic, Paid Up Subscriber, Paulassilverlining, Wheatfield. Possible: Kathballu.
$250,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) (Entries close Tuesday; Race Saturday, April 8) – A. P. Indian, Awesome Slew, Cautious Giant, Fish Trappe Road, Limousine Liberal, Redesdale, Riding in the Wind, Seeking the Soul, Tale of S’avall, Yockey’s Warrior.
$200,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) (Entries close Tuesday; Race Saturday, April 8) – Blue Wings, Green Mask, Hogy, Holding Gold, Mongolian Saturday, Rainbow Heir.
$150,000 ADENA SPRINGS BEAUMONT (G3) (Entries close Thursday; Race Sunday, April 9) – Dancing Rags, Laney, Ms Locust Point, My Miss Chiff, Promises Broken, Sweet Loretta, Tapped. Possible: Sounds Delicious.

“KEENELAND MAGAZINE ON TV” AIRS SUNDAY AND THURSDAY

A segment on Man o’ War, whose 100th birthday was Wednesday, is included in the new episode of “Keeneland Magazine on TV,” a 30-minute program that chronicles stories about Central Kentucky from the print edition of the award-winning Keeneland magazine. Catch the latest edition of “Keeneland Magazine on TV” on Sunday, April 2, at noon ET on WKYT.

This spring’s stories feature:

• “Big Red Star.” After returning to his Kentucky birthplace, Horse of the Century Man o’ War drew admirers from around the world.
• “Nostalgic Appeal.” With its many small and family-owned businesses, mid-century architecture and welcoming vibe, the Southland Drive neighborhood is a Lexington original.
• “Putting Down Steaks.” Tony’s of Lexington has fast become the place for big steaks and buzzy atmosphere.
• “Making a Difference: A Literate Lexington.” Carnegie Center celebrates 25 years of promoting literacy and learning.

The program will be re-broadcast on Thursday, April 6, at 10 p.m. on The CW Lexington.
Click here for more information about Keeneland magazine.