Keeneland Barn Notes — Wednesday, Oct. 4

By Amy Owens —-

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4
Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet opens Friday and concludes Saturday, Oct. 28, with racing
on Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 p.m. ET.
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· FINLEY’SLUCKYCHARM HEADLINES FIELD FOR THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
· DEFENDING CHAMP MONGOLIAN SATURDAY EYES WOODFORD REPEAT
· SHADWELL TURF MILE ENTRANT AMERICAN PATRIOT, EXERCISE RIDER BUSH RETURN TO KENTUCKY
· DELECTATION SETTLES IN FOR FIRST LADY BID
· PROBABLE STAKES FIELDS FOR FALL STARS SUNDAY AND NEXT WEEK
· FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

FINLEY’SLUCKYCHARM HEADLINES FIELD
FOR THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
Carl R. Moore Management’s Finley’sluckycharm, who has emerged as one of the top female sprinters in the country, will make her Keeneland debut Saturday when she heads a field of eight fillies and mares for the 37th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) going
6 furlongs on the dirt.
The Thoroughbred Club of America, one of five graded stakes on Saturday’s 10-race program, is a “Win and You’re In” race for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 4 at Del Mar. Saturday’s race is the sixth of the afternoon with a 4 p.m. ET post time.
Trained by Bret Calhoun, Finley’sluckycharm has posted a 6-5-1-0 mark at the 6-furlong distance and claimed graded stakes victories in the Winning Colors (G3) and Chicago Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs.
In her most recent start, Finley’sluckycharm finished second, beaten a neck by Paulassilverlining in the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga. Paulassilverlining won the Madison (G1) here this spring.
Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount on Finley’sluckycharm and will break from post position four.
Looming as the prime challenger to Finley’sluckycharm is Kirk and Judy Robison’s Vertical Oak.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Vertical Oak comes into Saturday’s race off a 5¼-length victory in the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount and will break from post position two.
Returning for a second run in the race is Claiborne Farm’s Bendable. Trained by Richard Mandella, Bendable was third in last year’s running and comes into Saturday’s race off a third-place finish in the Rancho Bernardo (G3) at Del Mar.
Javier Castellano has the mount on Bendable and will break from post position one.
The field for the Thoroughbred Club of America, with riders and weights, is: Bendable (Castellano, 122 pounds), Vertical Oak (Santana Jr., 120), I’m a Looker (Corey Lanerie, 120), Finley’sluckycharm (Hernandez Jr., 122), Grace’s Treasure (Jesus Castanon, 120), Chalon (Paco Lopez, 118), True Romance (Joe Bravo, 120) and Ivy Bell (Shaun Bridgmohan, 120).

DEFENDING CHAMP MONGOLIAN SATURDAY EYES WOODFORD REPEAT
Mongolian Stable’s Mongolian Saturday tops a field of nine turf sprinters entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 21st running of the $200,000 Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (G2).
The 5½-furlong race on the turf is the first of five graded stakes on Saturday’s 10-race program and will go as the afternoon’s fifth race with a 3:25 p.m. ET post time.
Winner of the 2016 running, Mongolian Saturday will attempt to become the fourth horse to win the Woodford in consecutive years. The other back-to-back winners are Morluc (2000-2001), Sgt. Bert (2005-2006) and Silver Timber (2009-2010).
Trained by Enebish Ganbat, Mongolian Saturday also won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) here. He comes into Saturday’s race off a runner-up effort in the Turf Monster (G3) at Parx on Sept. 4.
Javier Castellano has the mount on Mongolian Saturday and will break from post position six.
The field for the Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select, with riders and weights, is: Conquest Panthera (Robby Albarado, 124 pounds), Bucchero (Fernando De La Cruz, 120), Commend (Jose Lezcano, 120), Indy Hill (Jon Court, 118), Latent Revenge (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120), Mongolian Saturday (Castellano, 120), Balandeen (Corey Lanerie, 118), Hogy (Florent Geroux, 122) and Mongol Bull (Edgar Perez, 120).

SHADWELL TURF MILE ENTRANT AMERICAN PATRIOT,
EXERCISE RIDER BUSH RETURN TO KENTUCKY
WinStar Farm’s American Patriot, who won the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland in April for trainer Todd Pletcher, will attempt to join Wise Dan and Miss Temple City as the third horse to win both that race and the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in the same year when he starts in the Shadwell Turf Mile on Saturday.
The Shadwell Turf Mile is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
Wise Dan won the Maker’s 46 Mile and Shadwell Turf Mile in 2014. Miss Temple City, who will face American Patriot on Saturday, won both races last year.
After winning the Maker’s 46 Mile, American Patriot traveled to England, where he finished off the board in the Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot. He ran sixth on a yielding turf in his last start, the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga.
The 4-year-old War Front colt arrived at Keeneland early Monday morning, and galloped Tuesday and Wednesday under exercise rider Nick Bush.
“Actually when he got here he remembered, ‘Oh yeah, I know where I am.’ So he’s doing well, he shipped in fine and trained great yesterday,” Pletcher’s Keeneland assistant, Ginny DePasquale, said Wednesday. “Seems he does (like Keeneland). I think he likes the turf here, hopefully we don’t get a lot of rain. He doesn’t appreciate a soft turf.”
Also returning to Kentucky since the spring is Bush, who has been with Pletcher’s operation for a decade. He helped to prepare another prominent Pletcher trainee: Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming.
“It was amazing, because that horse was peaking at that time,” Bush said about the experience. “Just going in the Derby, knowing that you’ve got a horse like that under you, coming out of (winning) the Florida Derby (G1) – solid. It was amazing. That’s a race I always wanted to win as a kid.
“I think every exercise rider should be able to experience something like that, because as a rider that’s something that you dream of,” Bush added. “And having a Derby horse and having fans out there cheering for you just coming out on the track, it’s a great feeling. It’s amazing.”

DELECTATION SETTLES IN FOR FIRST LADY BID
For Delectation (GB), the lone European invader for Saturday’s 20th running of the $400,000 First Lady (G1), coming to Keeneland is a whole new ballgame.
“This is completely different than what she has at home,” said Christa Germann, assistant to trainer Andreas Wohler. “There she is at a private grounds with 100 horses.”
A two-time Group 3 winner in Europe this year, the 3-year-old Delegator filly flew to Chicago Saturday where she spent a couple days in quarantine before shipping to Keeneland. She has trained on the dirt track the past two days.
“The owners (Australian Bloodstock) felt like she needed races with more pace,” Germann said of the decision to come to the U.S. “She was in some paceless races and she has been unlucky.”
Regular rider Eduardo Pedroza is coming in to ride Delectation in the First Lady, a “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
“The owners are thinking about it,” said Germann, who has been an assistant to Wohler for 12 years. “It (the Breeders’ Cup) is in their minds.”

PROBABLE STAKES FIELDS FOR FALL STARS SUNDAY AND NEXT WEEK
The following is a list of probable starters for upcoming stakes compiled by Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Allison DeLuca.
$500,000 JUDDMONTE SPINSTER (G1) (Entries taken Thursday; race Sunday) – Bar of Gold (trainer John Kimmel), Blue Prize (ARG) (Ignacio Correas IV), Factory of Faith (Michael Ewing), Katalust (Anthony Rini), Martini Glass (Keith Nations), Mo d’Amour (Rodolphe Brisset), Romantic Vision (Rusty Arnold) and Tiger Moth (Brad Cox).
$250,000 DIXIANA BOURBON (G3) (Entries taken Thursday; race Sunday) – Admiralty Pier (Barbara Minshall), Arawak (Wesley Ward), Budro Talking (Danny Pish), Flameaway (Mark Casse), Fred’stwirlincandy (Lon Wiggins), High Providence (Jason Meaux), John Tippmann (Kenny McPeek), Machtree (Casse), Tap Daddy (Steve Asmussen), Tigers Rule (Vickie Foley), Trenton Traveler (Mary Lightner) and Wicked Trick (Ray Handal). Possible: The X (Ben Colebrook) and Way Early (George Weaver).
$150,000 JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE (G3) (Entries taken Sunday; race Wednesday, Oct. 11) – Lady O’Toole (Brad Cox), Layla Noor (Arnaud Delacour), Mentality (Wesley Ward), She’s All Skeet (Joe Sharp), Stainless (Todd Pletcher), Sugar Queen (Pletcher) and Sunny Skies (Kenny McPeek).
$100,000 BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, race Friday, Oct. 13) – Always Thinking (Tom Albertrani), Boom Bam Bing (Karl Broberg), Justa Lady (Steve Asmussen), Morticia (Rusty Arnold), Nobody’s Fault (Neil Pessin), Ruby Notion (Wesley Ward) and Triple Chelsea (Joe Sharp).

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
Thursday, Oct. 5
Official Keeneland Tours – During the Fall Meet, guided tours are offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. Fans also can receive an insider view of racing on the Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tours and a Backstretch Tour and Day at the Races on other days.
Friday, Oct. 6 – Opening Day/Fall Stars Weekend
The Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery adjacent to the Walking Ring from 11 a.m. to the 30 minutes after final post.
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, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ handicapping questions.
Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG. A $200,000-guaranteed pool will be offered on the final four races of the day, including the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) and Darley Alcibiades (G1).
Saturday, Oct. 7 – Fall Stars Weekend
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 for purchase and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.) while Thoroughbreds train on the main track; children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); Keeneland tours (7:30-10 a.m.); Paddock demonstration with ponies from the Kentucky Horse Park (9 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar with Paddock Host Katie Gensler (11 a.m.); and Q&A session with a jockey in the Paddock (12:05 p.m.).

The Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Christine A. Moore Millinery adjacent to the Walking Ring from 11 a.m. to the 30 minutes after final post.
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, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ handicapping questions. On Saturdays, the area’s favorite bluegrass bands perform from 12-4 p.m.
$350,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 Presented by TVG. Features races 6-10: Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), First Lady (G1), Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
$250,000 All-Stakes Pick 5 Presented by TVG. Features races 5-10: Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select, Thoroughbred Club of America, First Lady, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and Shadwell Turf Mile.
Belmont-Keeneland Pick Four. Wager on premier stakes from Belmont and Keeneland, including the Shadwell Turf Mile, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).
Sunday, Oct. 8 – Fall Stars Weekend
“Keeneland Magazine on TV.” 8 p.m. on The CW Lexington. The 30-minute program chronicles Central Kentucky life and culture from the print edition of Keeneland magazine. The episode features Juddmonte Farms, Brewgrass Trail, Lexington’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center and Lexington’s murals.