Keeneland Barn Notes — Tuesday, Oct. 10

Posted On 10 Oct 2017

By Amy Owens —-

TUESDAY, OCT. 10
Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet 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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· DEFENDING CHAMP MISS ELLA TOPS OVERFLOW FIELD FOR FRIDAY’S BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY
· TOM LEACH INTERVIEWS DELACOUR, WARD ABOUT STAKES HORSES
· PROCTOR’S LEDGE FULFILLING PROMISE FOR WALSH
· GOING OUT HAS STRONG CONNECTION TO KEENELAND
· SHADWELL TURF MILE WINNER GRAND ARCH RETIRED TO OWNERS’ FARM
· GALLOPING OUT
· PROBABLE FIELD FOR UPCOMING STAKES
· FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
· FALL MEET LEADERS

DEFENDING CHAMP MISS ELLA TOPS OVERFLOW FIELD FOR FRIDAY’S BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY
Jack Swain III’s Miss Ella headlines a field of 12 fillies and mares and four also-eligibles entered Tuesday for Friday’s 21st running of the $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) to be run at 5½ furlongs on the Keeneland turf course.
The Buffalo Trace Franklin County will go as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race program with a 5:30 p.m. ET post time. First post time is 1:05 p.m.
Trained by Graham Motion, Miss Ella will attempt to join Ayrial Delight (1998-1999) as the only back-to-back winner of the race. Feargal Lynch will have the mount Friday and break from post position one.
Chief rivals to Miss Ella might be a couple of 3-year-olds: Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Lull and G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Morticia.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Lull comes into the Buffalo Trace Franklin County off a victory in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint on Sept. 9. Two times graded-stakes placed, Lull will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and break from post position six.
Trained by Rusty Arnold, Morticia is a four-time turf sprint stakes winner and comes into the race off a third-place finish in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint. Jose Lezcano has the mount and will break from post position seven.
The field for the Buffalo Trace Franklin County, with riders and weights, is: Miss Ella (Lynch, 120 pounds), Justa Lady (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120), Boom Bam Bing (C.J. McMahon, 120), Kasuga (Julien Leparoux, 120), Ruby Notion (Julio Garcia, 120), Lull (Hernandez Jr., 118), Morticia (Lezcano, 118), Always Thinking (Joe Bravo, 120), Scatter Gun (Joe Rocco, 120), Indriya (Rito Almanza, 120), Nobody’s Fault (Corey Lanerie, 120), Carolina Shag (Jack Gilligan, 120). Also-Eligibles: Childhood (Robby Albarado, 118), Marquee Cal Gal (Jack Gilligan, 120), Excessivespending (Corey Lanerie, 118) and Wheatfield (Florent Geroux, 120).

TOM LEACH INTERVIEWS DELACOUR, WARD ABOUT STAKES HORSES

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach, the “Voice of the Wildcats” for University of Kentucky football and men’s basketball, interviews these trainers about horses in upcoming stakes:
Arnaud Delacour about Layla Noor in Wednesday’s JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3).
Wesley Ward about Mentality in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine and Con Te Partiro in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1).

PROCTOR’S LEDGE FULFILLING PROMISE FOR WALSH
When trainer Brendan Walsh brought Proctor’s Ledge to Keeneland in the spring, he thought he had the makings of a quality filly on his hands.
“She beat a full field of maidens on Pegasus Day (Jan. 28 at Gulfstream) and was super impressive in her allowance win,” Walsh said of Proctor’s Ledge, one of 11 invitees to Saturday’s $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1). “I figured we had something and I think she is only going to get better as she goes.”
Owned by breeder Patricia Moseley, Proctor’s Ledge finished third in her stakes debut, the Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association behind QE 2 rival La Coronel. The 3-year-old Ghostzapper filly returns to Keeneland with a couple of graded stakes victories on her resume from Saratoga: Lake George (G3) and Lake Placid (G2).
“We freshened her up after Saratoga to focus on here,” Walsh said. “I am very happy with her and now it is just a matter of getting her to the big day. It is going to be a big test for her.”
Corey Lanerie, who has ridden Proctor’s Ledge five times and was aboard for her first two victories, will have the mount Saturday.

GOING OUT HAS STRONG CONNECTION TO KEENELAND
Trainer Michael Matz stood outside Going Out’s stall Tuesday, peering in at the 2-year-old Tapit filly who will make her second career start in Wednesday’s fifth race.
“She has a beautiful pedigree, and I’ve had some of her sisters so I know the family a little bit,” Matz said.
Bred and owned by George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable, Going Out is the fourth foal out of Augustin’s champion Forever Together, who won the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland in 2008 before conquering the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) and receiving the Eclipse Award as champion grass mare.
Forever Together, who earned nearly $3 million in her career, returned to Keeneland the following spring to win the 2009 Jenny Wiley (G2). She made a total of five starts at Keeneland – all in graded stakes – and was second in the 2007 Stonerside Beaumont (G2) and third in the 2009 First Lady and 2010 Jenny Wiley.
Going Out is entered in a maiden special weight Wednesday, at a mile on the turf. In her first race, she was second by a half-length on the turf at Delaware Park Sept. 9.
“She’s only run once and she did that nicely,” Matz said. “It looked like she was going to run by the other horse, and then maybe she just needed the race. The horse that beat her (Moon Dash) ran in California yesterday in the stakes out there (Surfer Girl at Santa Anita) and was in a photo, and got second.”
Matz is hoping for clear weather with no rain for Going Out’s second race.
“I don’t know what to expect if it rains… I hope she has a good performance,” he said. “I’m expecting her to, she’s done everything right so far. She’s traveled down here well, and Mr. Strawbridge likes it at Keeneland and he said he’d like to support it. That’s why we came all this way.”
Augustin has won 71 races, including 19 stakes, at Keeneland since the 1996 Spring Meet. During the 2010 Fall Meet, Strawbridge received the Gold Tray in recognition of his eighth graded stakes win at the track.

SHADWELL TURF MILE WINNER GRAND ARCH RETIRED TO OWNERS’ FARM
Jim and Susan Hill’s Grand Arch, winner of the 2015 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and third that year in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland, has been retired to a life of leisure at the Hills’ Margaux Farm in nearby Midway, Kentucky.
“He is enjoying his retirement,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “He had a (minor) injury and we don’t think he could have continued racing at the top level.”
Grand Arch, an 8-year-old Arch gelding, closed his 29-race career in July with seven wins and earnings of $1,894,563. The two-time Keeneland sales graduate made eight starts at Keeneland, racing here at least once a year from 2012-2016. He made three starts in the Shadwell Turf Mile, finishing second to Horse of the Year Wise Dan in 2014, and also won two allowance races here.
“He certainly was a fixture in our stable and at Keeneland, and he is a very, very hard horse to replace,” Lynch said. “He loved being at Keeneland and we miss having him at the barn.”
Lynch and his team have a worthy successor in Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart, another top-level grass specialist, who was a close second in the Shadwell Turf Mile on Saturday.

GALLOPING OUT
Godolphin Racing’s Wuheida (GB) cleared quarantine and visited Keeneland’s all-weather training track Tuesday morning. With Kirsty Milczarek aboard, Wuheida backtracked once around with a lead pony and then had an easy canter of about a mile.
Expected to be one of the favorites in Saturday’s $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1), Wuheida won a Group 1 last year as a 2-year-old and has raced in nothing but Group 1 stakes this year in Europe. Trainer Charles Appleby is scheduled to be here Saturday.
Also clearing quarantine was Ali Ridha’s German One Thousand Guineas (G2) winner Unforgetable Filly (GB). With Joseph Rennicks aboard, Unforgetable Filly also cantered on the training track. Hugo Palmer trains Unforgetable Filly.

PROBABLE FIELD FOR UPCOMING STAKES
$500,000 QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END (G1) (Entries taken Wednesday; race Saturday) – Invitees: Beau Recall (IRE) (Simon Callaghan), Con Te Partiro (Wesley Ward), Daddys Lil Darling (Kenny McPeek), Dream Dancing (Mark Casse), La Coronel (Casse), Madam Dancealot (IRE) (Richard Baltas), New Money Honey (Chad Brown), Proctor’s Ledge (Brendan Walsh), Unforgetable Filly (GB) (Hugo Palmer), Uni (GB) (Brown) and Wuheida (GB) (Charles Appleby).

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
Wednesday, Oct. 11
WINS-Day Challenge. An inexpensive way for beginning handicappers to test their skills and give handicapping contests a try, the WINS-Day Challenge has a $2,500 guaranteed pool. Enter for $10 at Wagering Central (first floor of the Grandstand) and place a mythical $2 win and place wager – no actual money required – on Keeneland races 3-8.
Thursday, Oct. 12
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.
10th Anniversary Make-A-Wish Day. Keeneland and area Thoroughbred farms and organizations are proud to partner with Make-A-Wish in this annual event, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary by granting wishes for 10 deserving children. Fans can support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and cheer on these children as they present the trophies after each race as part of their VIP day at the races. Sponsors are Ashford Stud, Flaxman Holdings/Frizzy Foundation, Gainesway Farm, Godolphin, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Keeneland, Lane’s End Farm, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Shadwell Farm and Shawnee Farm.
Friday, Oct. 13
Jockey Autograph Signing. Meet jockeys competing during the Fall Meet as well as retired jockeys – from Hall of Famers to history makers and Keeneland favorites – and participate in an autograph signing to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Buffalo Trace Giveaway. Patrons may enter to win a VIP Buffalo Trace Distillery Experience: a private behind-the-scenes tour of Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky; lunch with Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley; and a private whiskey tasting. The first 2,000 people to register will receive a free Buffalo Trace drawstring bag. Registration table is located Trackside near Elevator C beginning at noon and continuing while supplies last.

The Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore adjacent to the Walking Ring from 11 a.m. to 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.

Saturday, Oct. 14
Keeneland Fall Challenge. The handicapping contest has a $400 buy-in with a live bankroll of $250 and $150 prize fund fee. Players may wager any amount on any Keeneland race with no minimum wagers or number of races.
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 Stuart Muir, a farrier at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital (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 a trunk show with Darren K. Moore adjacent to the Walking Ring from 11 a.m. to 30 minutes after final post.
The Keeneland Shop presents a book signing with Caleb Fares, illustrator of the new Made South Keeneland Coloring Book, from 2-4 p.m. Both children and adults will enjoy this entertaining way to explore the history and beauty of Keeneland through maps and illustrations. Click here for a video about the Keeneland Coloring Book.

Keeneland is holding a Keeneland Coloring Contest in celebration of the new Coloring Book. Fans can enter by uploading a photo of their finished work to Instagram: Tag @shopkeeneland and include the hashtag #keenelandcoloringbook. Keeneland will announce winners via Instagram on Oct. 19. The lucky winner receives a reserved Grandstand box for up to six and a Keeneland Kids Club gift crate.

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 Pick 4 Presented by TVG. Features races 7-10, including the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1).
Sunday, Oct. 15
Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge/National Handicapping Challenge – The prestigious event awards cash prizes and as many as six spots in the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge at Del Mar and 10 spots in the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas in February 2018. The contest can accommodate up to 170 players, with a total entry fee of $3,000 ($2,000 live bankroll and $1,000 prize fund).

Kids Club Family Day. The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for fans 12 and younger. Kids Club members and their families are invited to enjoy a special day at the races by receiving free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m.

The Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore adjacent to the Walking Ring from 11 a.m. to 30 minutes after final post.

FALL MEET LEADERS
Through Oct. 8 (three days of racing)
Jockey
Starts
Wins
2nd
3rd
Purses

Julien Leparoux
22
7
2
1
$713,576
Robby Albarado
18
4
0
2
$428,396
Luis Saez
17
3
2
0
$139,325
Brian Hernandez Jr.
18
2
3
3
$588,753
Florent Geroux
13
2
3
1
$403,840
James Graham
7
2
0
2
$140,887