Keeneland April 14 Barn Notes

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet runs through 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.

• BROWN TO KEEP PRACTICAL JOKE AT KEENELAND FOR A WHILE
• PLETCHER BIDS FOR RECORD 51ST STAKES WIN IN TODAY’S MAKER’S 46 MILE
• LA CORONEL EXITS APPALACHIAN VICTORY IN GOOD ORDER
• DICKINSON UPS HER GAME WITH MOVE TO THE GRASS
• UNDEFEATED FOR NEW BARN, GOODYEARFORROSES SHOOTS FOR GRADE 1 SUCCESS IN COOLMORE JENNY WILEY
• GALLOPING OUT
• STAKES PROBABLES
• SPRING MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
• SPRING MEET LEADERS

BROWN TO KEEP PRACTICAL JOKE AT KEENELAND FOR A WHILE

Trainer Chad Brown said Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s Practical Joke, second in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) on Saturday, would remain at Keeneland until about April 24 and have one work here before he moves to Churchill Downs for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Yum! Brands.

“He’s doing so well I don’t want to move him quite yet,” Brown said about the colt by Into Mischief, who won the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) last year.

The other Derby candidates at Keeneland are Toyota Blue Grass winner Irap and fifth-place finisher Tapwrit.

Irap could remain at Keeneland until the final week of April. Tapwrit is scheduled to leave Keeneland for Churchill on Sunday.

PLETCHER BIDS FOR RECORD 51ST STAKES WIN IN TODAY’S MAKER’S 46 MILE

In today’s $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1), WinStar Farm’s American Patriot will bid to give trainer Todd Pletcher his record 51st stakes victory at Keeneland. Pletcher, whose first stakes win here was the 1996 Valley View with Turkappeal, equaled the track record held by his former boss, D. Wayne Lukas, on Sunday when St. Elias Stable’s Sweet Loretta captured the Adena Springs Beaumont (G3).

Owner John C. Oxley on Thursday reached a Keeneland milestone when La Coronel won the Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association for his eighth graded stakes here. For the accomplishment, Oxley earned a Keeneland Tray, part of the track’s signature Milestone Trophy Program, which recognizes owners for their graded stakes success here.

A total of 20 owners in Keeneland history have received a Keeneland Tray. Vying for No 21 is Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, which on Saturday will start Souper Tapit in the $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3).

LA CORONEL EXITS APPALACHIAN VICTORY IN GOOD ORDER

David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, reported that John Oxley’s La Coronel was doing well the morning after her 3¼-length victory in the Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association.
“La Coronel and Dream Dancing (who finished fourth for Casse and Oxley) are OK this morning,” Carroll said. “They are still here, but they will be going over to Churchill Downs soon. That was a pretty salty bunch yesterday, but (La Coronel) was probably the best horse in the race.”

After the Appalachian, Casse indicated La Coronel may face the boys in the $300,000 American Turf (G2) on May 6 and have Dream Dancing for the $150,000 Edgewood (G3) on May 5.

Last year’s Appalachian winner, Catch a Glimpse, beat males in the Penn Mile (G3) four weeks after winning the Edgewood.

“Mark’s not afraid to do that,” Carroll said. “She is not the biggest filly, but she is strong and could handle it.”

Florent Geroux picked up his second consecutive Appalachian victory.

“Nice horse. Nice horses make you look good,” said Geroux, who has ridden La Coronel in her past five starts. “I knew last fall when she won here (in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine-G3) that she was a Breeders’ Cup-type horse.”

In the Breeders’ Cup, La Coronel drew post 13 as opposed to the two hole Thursday that gave Geroux a ground-saving trip.

“Last year in the Breeders’ Cup, Mark was worried about the post,” Geroux said. “I told him I didn’t think it would be a problem, but I couldn’t put her where I wanted. She only got beat three lengths and the horse that won, New Money Honey, she’s beaten two times out of three.”

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Morticia pressed the pace and hung on to finish second for trainer Rusty Arnold.

“I’m proud of her,” Arnold said “To go from a maiden race to a stakes and then to a Grade 1-type field going two turns the first time; that was huge.”

Arnold indicated he would skip the Edgewood in favor of the $200,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National on June 3.

“The Edgewood comes up too quick and this will give us six to seven weeks for the Penn Oaks,” Arnold said.

The Edgewood is possible for third-place finisher Proctor’s Ledge, who finished a head in back of Morticia.

“If she could have gotten a little more running room, she might have won,” trainer Brendan Walsh said of the filly who is owned and bred by Patricia Moseley.

Last year, Walsh saddled Auntie Joy to a fifth-place finish in the Appalachian and three weeks later she finished second in the Edgewood to Catch a Glimpse.

Bellavais, who finished fifth in her first start in three months, will head to New York, according to trainer James Toner.

“She’s fine this morning but she got tired,” Toner said. “I thought she ran well but it didn’t look like the layup horses did that well. The horses that ran better all had races in March.”

Next up for Bellavais would be the $100,000 Soaring Softly at 7 furlongs on May 20 or the $200,000 Wonder Again (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on June 8, both races named for fillies Toner trained.

“It will be one of the two,” Toner said.

Trainer Chad Brown said sixth-place finisher New Money Honey, winner of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) who was making her 2017 debut in the race, was fine this morning. The filly is to return to New York and make her next start at Belmont Park.

DICKINSON UPS HER GAME WITH MOVE TO THE GRASS

The pedigree for Godolphin Racing’s Dickinson screams dirt although on Saturday she will be part of a star-studded field in the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) on the turf.

She is by Medaglia d’Oro out of 2008 Central Bank Ashland (G1) winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Little Belle.

“She broke her maiden here on dirt and also won on dirt at Monmouth,” said Roger Horgan, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “But she was kind of middle of the road (on dirt) and Kiaran decided to shake things up and put her on the grass.”

Starting with an allowance victory at Parx last Sept. 6, Dickinson has won four of five on the grass and has captured the Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs and Suwannee River (G3) at Gulfstream Park in her past two starts.

“The turf has totally transformed her and she has improved every start,” Horgan said. “She is doing well here and she is a happy girl. I think she belongs here. When you hang that Grade 1 out there, you know it is going to be tough.”

UNDEFEATED FOR NEW BARN, GOODYEARFORROSES SHOOTS
FOR GRADE 1 SUCCESS IN COOLMORE JENNY WILEY

Trainer Richard Baltas has brought runners from his home base in Southern California to Keeneland for the past five meets. On Saturday, he will be looking for his first Keeneland victory when Abbodanza Racing’s Goodyearforroses (IRE) runs in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1).

“We have not had a lot of luck here, so hopefully this mare will turn things around,” said Baltas, whose best Keeneland finish came with his first starter, Clearly Confused, who was third in the 2015 Madison (G1). “Sometimes you have to ship to get those Grade 1’s.”

Goodyearforroses has been in the Baltas barn for less than six months.

“I bought her at a sale (for $200,000) two days after the Breeders’ Cup,” said David Meah, who doubles as an assistant to Baltas and gallops Goodyearforroses.

Goodyearforroses was a stakes winner and graded-stakes placed in Canada before going through the sale ring.

“She had established that she could run,” Baltas said. “She has put on about 150 pounds since we got her and she has adapted to California well. She is three for three for us and won a Grade 2 (the Santa Ana) pretty easy.”

In her three wins, Goodyearforroses has made more than her purchase price. Corey Nakatani, who has been aboard in those starts, has the mount Saturday.

GALLOPING OUT
Mark Casse, who sent out John C. Oxley’s La Coronel to win yesterday’s Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association, was named Canada’s outstanding trainer of 2016 during last night’s 42nd annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony in Toronto.
Casse has won three stakes during Keeneland’s 2017 Spring Meet. On Saturday, he won two consecutive stakes with horses owned by Live Oak Plantation: Holding Gold in the Shakertown (G2) and Awesome Slew in the Commonwealth (G3). …
Jockey Chelsey Keiser won her Keeneland debut on Andrea Lematta’s homebred Zarcat in Thursday’s second race. Trained by Vernon Coyle, the 4-year-old Munnings filly won the 1 1/16-mile allowance race by a head in 1:48.03.

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
$100,000 HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, April 18; race Friday, April 21) – Lady Fog Horn (trainer Anthony Granitz), Power of Snunner (Joe Sharp), Unbridled Mo (Todd Pletcher). Possible: Dalsaros (Carla Gaines).
$250,000 DIXIANA ELKHORN (G2) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 19; race Saturday, April 22) –Bigger Picture (trainer Mike Maker), Bullards Alley (Tim Glyshaw), Charming Kitten (Maker), Danish Dynaformer (Roger Attfield), Grey Wizard (Jose Fernandez), Red Rifle (Todd Pletcher), Taghleeb (Maker), Twilight Eclipse (Graham Motion).

SPRING MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

Through December
Keeneland Library exhibit “Man o’ War: Images from the Keeneland Library Collections.” Exhibit features 16 shots of Man o’ War during his racing career and years at stud by Charles Christian Cook, Joseph Alvie Estes, Robert Lee McClure and Bert Clark Thayer. The Library is open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. During the 2017 Spring Meet, it also is open on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Library’s online exhibit “Man o’ War: In Others’ Words” tells the story of Man o’ War’s life, accomplishments and influence through images from its collection that are accompanied by quotations from the horse’s connections, contemporary sports writers and modern biographers. 
Friday, April 14
Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery and Polly Singer Designs adjacent to the Walking Ring from 9 a.m. to the last race.

Budweiser Clydesdales. Fans can have their photos taken with a Budweiser Clydesdale on Friday at the East Gate between noon and 1 p.m. On Saturday, the Budweiser Clydesdales hitch will make an on-track appearance between races.

Tailgating on The Hill. Keeneland’s popular tailgate lot, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, features local food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.
Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG. A $200,000-guaranteed pool will be offered on the final four races of the day.
Saturday, April 15
Sunrise Trackside Keeneland shares a special side of Thoroughbred racing that is worth getting up early to enjoy. Sponsored by LEX18, Sunrise Trackside is a free, family-friendly event with activities for all ages: Breakfast With the Works features breakfast ($8) and trackside commentary while Thoroughbreds train on the main track (7-8:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); Keeneland tours (7:30-10 a.m.); Paddock demonstration with Asbury University Service Mounts (9 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar (11:30 a.m.); and Q&A session with jockey Joel Rosario in the Paddock (12:05 p.m.).

Budweiser Clydesdales. The famous Budweiser Clydesdales will perform on the main track between races.

Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery and Polly Singer Designs adjacent to the Walking Ring from 9 a.m. to the last race.
Tailgating on The Hill. Keeneland’s popular tailgate lot, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, features local food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. One of Central Kentucky’s favorite bluegrass bands will perform from 12-4 p.m. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.

Sunday, April 16 – Easter – Keeneland is closed.
 
SPRING MEET LEADERS
Through April 13 (five days of racing)
Jockey Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses

Julien Leparoux 28 7 3 5 $895,319
Corey Lanerie 27 5 4 3 $530,212
Joel Rosario 15 5 3 2 $633,020
Javier Castellano 13 5 0 1 $292,973
Jose Ortiz 29 4 4 3 $414,471

Trainer Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses

Wesley Ward 16 4 3 2 $169,333
Mark Casse 14 4 0 0 $423,229
Chad Brown 10 3 2 2 $508,677
Eddie Kenneally 11 3 0 2 $382,580

###