Keeneland Barn Notes — April 1

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet opens Friday, April 6, and runs through Friday, April 27,
with racing Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 p.m. ET.
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Click here for the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) Weekend microsite dedicated to Keeneland’s April 6-8 opening weekend stakes. See biographies of the connections of horses expected to compete
in the 94th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass on opening Saturday, April 7; history and statistics for the race; and charts and replays. Also includes history, statistics and charts for the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on April 7, along with complete lists of nominees and past performances for the other stakes on opening weekend.

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Click here for a link to the lists of nominations and past performances
for Keeneland’s April 13-14 stakes.

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• QUIP ZIPS 5 FURLONGS IN 1:00.40 FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS
• LIKELY CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND FAVORITE MONOMOY GIRL WORKS HALF-MILE
• GALLOPING OUT

QUIP ZIPS 5 FURLONGS IN 1:00.40 FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS

China Horse Club International, WinStar Farm and SF Racing’s Quip completed his major preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) by working 5 furlongs in company in 1:00.40 over a fast track early Sunday at Keeneland.

With trainer Rodolphe Brisset aboard, Quip started two lengths in back of Potomac and finished on even terms in posting fractions of :12.60, :25, :47.20 and 1:00.40 in the work that was accomplished shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET.

“I was happy with it,” Brisset said. “We got lucky with the weather having the rain hold off. I had worked him twice on a sealed track at Fair Grounds and was not concerned about having to do that, but you prefer to have the track like it is this morning.”

Sunday’s work was the second for Quip since he won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 10. Quip worked a half-mile in :48.40 on March 24 at Tampa Bay Downs before shipping to Keeneland.

“He is training well and he is a good shipper,” Brisset said of Quip, who spent plenty of time here last year and won a two-turn allowance race by 6½ lengths over Keeneland’s main track.

In other Toyota Blue Grass news, Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing’s Blended Citizen walked the shedrow Sunday morning at Keeneland a day after working 5 furlongs in 1:01. Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, said Blended Citizen came out of the work well.

Other probable Toyota Blue Grass starters are California Night, Determinant, Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Good Magic, Gotta Go, Heartfullofstars, Machismo, Sporting Chance, Tiz Mischief and Zing Zang with Kanthaka considered as a possible entrant.

California Night worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.23 at Belmont Park on Saturday for trainer Mike Maker.

LIKELY CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND FAVORITE
MONOMOY GIRL WORKS HALF-MILE

Monomoy Stables, Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables’ Monomoy Girl, the probable favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), breezed a half-mile in :47.20 Sunday morning at Keeneland over a fast track.

Working in company with the 4-year-old maiden winner Compass Zone, Monomoy Girl started a length back and finished on even terms while posting fractions of :24, :47.40 and out 5 furlongs in :59.80.
“That was visually impressive,” said trainer Brad Cox, who claimed his second training title at the Fair Grounds meet that closed Saturday. “I had her going out in 1:00.03 and then 1:13.40 for three-quarters.”

A winner of four of five starts, Monomoy Girl comes into the Central Bank Ashland off a 2½-length victory in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) as the 9-10 favorite at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17.
Sunday’s work was the fifth for Monomoy Girl since her Rachel Alexandra victory. Cox opted for the Central Bank Ashland over the March 24 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) “because this race is Grade 1 and offers more money.”

Although Monomoy Girl never has raced at Keeneland, Sunday’s work was not her first over the track.
“She was here for a few months last year,” Cox said. “She was here and then went to Ellis Park before she debuted at Indiana Grand.”

Cox said Monomoy Girl would return to the track Tuesday and would have a gate schooling session sometime this week as well as Paddock schooling “Wednesday or Thursday or both.”

Zedan Racing Stables’ Tyfosha is considered a 60-40 proposition to start in the Central Bank Ashland over Sunday’s Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, according to Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill. Tyfosha worked a half-mile in :50.20 here Saturday morning.

Other probable starters for the Central Bank Ashland are Andina Del Sur, C. S. Incharge and Mrs Rocco with Patrona Margarita and Eskimo Kisses considered as possible entrants.

GALLOPING OUT

Semaphore Racing and Homewrecker Racing’s Sailor’s Valentine, winner of last year’s Central Bank Ashland (G1), worked a half-mile in :48.20 after the renovation break Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Sailor’s Valentine is being pointed to Saturday’s $300,000 Madison (G1). …

Hoolie Racing Stable’s undefeated Dream It Is worked a half-mile in :47.20 before the renovation break for trainer Barbara Minshall in preparation for an expected start in next Sunday’s $150,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select. Dream It Is has not raced since winning the Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga by 9 lengths last July. …

Susan and Jim Hill’s Daddy Is a Legend, winner of the Jimmy Durante (G3) in November in her most recent start, worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 in company after the break for trainer Brian Lynch in preparation for next Sunday’s $200,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association. Also working for the Hills and Lynch was Eight Town, who covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 in preparation for Saturday’s $250,000 Commonwealth (G2).