Keeneland Barn Notes — Military Day at the Races Presented by Marathon

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 27, with racing
Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 pm. ET.
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• CHAMPION, TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER GOOD MAGIC WORKS;
LEAVES SUNDAY FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS
• KENTUCKY DERBY HOPEFUL BLENDED CITIZEN WORKS
• CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND RUNNER-UP ESKIMO KISSES TUNES UP FOR KENTUCKY OAKS
• VALADORNA “GREAT” AFTER HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE VICTORY
• GALLOPING OUT
• SPRING MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
• SPRINT MEET LEADERS
CHAMPION, TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER GOOD MAGIC WORKS;
LEAVES SUNDAY FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS AND KENTUCKY DERBY

Trainer Chad Brown called the Saturday breeze by champion and Toyota Blue Grass (G2) winner Good Magic “outstanding” after the Curlin colt worked 4 furlongs in :48 with exercise rider Walter Malasquez aboard. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Keeneland clockers caught Good Magic galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:00 and 6 furlongs in 1:14.

The move marked Good Magic’s first breeze since he won the Toyota Blue Grass two weeks earlier and prepares to make his next start in two weeks in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
“The horse is moving great,” Brown said. “He was well within himself. His time’s perfect – what I was looking for. It was well executed. I give my rider, Walter Malasquez, credit – they have good chemistry together. It’s a team effort. I couldn’t be happier with how (Good Magic is) doing.”

Brown said he plans to ship Good Magic to Churchill Sunday “and give him a nice full week of training. He’ll have his last work at Churchill.”

Good Magic, a $1 million purchase at Keeneland’s 2016 September Yearling Sale, races for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and breeder Stonestreet Stables. The colt has two wins in five starts, including the 2017 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

He made his 2018 debut March 3 in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park and finished third behind Promises Fulfilled. Brown admitted he was disappointed in the performance, but he recognized the value in the experience.

“That race was an important building block to get here today to see him not only win the Blue Grass and you saw the work today – it was outstanding,” he said. “It’s all been a progression.”

The 8-5 favorite in the Toyota Blue Grass, Good Magic and regular rider Jose Ortiz won the race by 1½ lengths and Brown said he “saw a fitter, stronger horse I saw him finally prepared to go on and run a race the way we know he’s capable of like in the Breeders’ Cup last year. It was a really good performance, and he came out of it great.”

Two weeks before the Kentucky Derby, Brown is pleased with how Good Magic has trained at Keeneland.
“We’re really confident that this horse is coming into the (Derby) the right way,” he said. “We’re confident (that) if he continues training as he is now, he’ll run the best race of his life. Whether that’s good enough (to win) remains to be seen – and if he has the racing luck necessary to win a race like the Derby. It’s the strongest field I’ve ever been involved with in the handful of times I’ve run in the race It’s a tall order, but I think we have one of the main contenders.”

On Saturday, Brown also worked e Five Racing’s undefeated Rushing Fall, who won the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association on opening Sunday of the Spring Meet. The filly breezed 4 furlongs in :49.60.

“She had a little easy maintenance move,” Brown said. “No plans for her (next race) yet, but what I can tell you is she’s going to fly to New York tomorrow. I just wanted her to stretch her legs a little bit before she got on the plane. She’s another one who loves Keeneland, so I wanted to take advantage of that before we left.

“Hopefully, she’ll be back in the fall for the Queen Elizabeth (II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End-G1).”

KENTUCKY DERBY HOPEFUL BLENDED CITIZEN WORKS

Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing’s Blended Citizen, currently on the outside looking in toward a spot in the 144th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) in two weeks, worked 5 furlongs in company in :59:40 over a fast track Saturday morning after the maintenance break.

With Gary Stevens aboard for trainer Doug O’Neill, Blended Citizen started a couple of lengths in back of Shane Zain, drew even in the stretch and inched ahead at the wire before galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:11.40.

“The farther the better for him,” said Jack Sisterson, assistant to O’Neill. “He galloped out well and Gary was happy with him. He said he really got going after the wire.”

Fifth behind Good Magic in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) in his most recent start, Blended Citizen is 24th in the point standings used to determine the Kentucky Derby field that is limited to the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box on May 1.

“He will work again here Saturday,” Sisterson said of Blended Citizen, who will need four defections from the horses ahead of him to make the field. Kyle Frey will have the mount in the Derby should Blended Citizen make the field.

After the next work, Sisterson said Blended Citizen would go to Churchill Downs along with his Saturday morning workmate. Shane Zain, seventh in the Sunland Derby (G3) in his most recent start, is being pointed to the $300,000 Pat Day Mile (G3) on May 5.

CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND RUNNER-UP ESKIMO KISSES
TUNES UP FOR KENTUCKY OAKS

Magdalena Racing, Gainesway Stable and Harold Lerner’s Eskimo Kisses, runner-up in Keeneland’s $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on April 7, breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 on Saturday in preparation for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 4 at Churchill Downs. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“That was perfect: a nice, happy breeze and she galloped out good,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “She doesn’t need much except a little maintenance breeze, something to keep her legs stretched. She is very easy and basic to train.”

Corey Lanerie, who rode Eskimo Kisses in the Central Bank Ashland, was aboard this morning. They went in company with Fern Circle Stables’ Classy Music, third in a Keeneland allowance race on April 6. The latter was ridden by Jorge Ricardo, the world’s winningest jockey who came to Keeneland from South America to ride Some in Tieme (BRZ) for McPeek in today’s Dixiana Elkhorn (G2).

McPeek said Eskimo Kisses will breeze again at Keeneland on April 28 before shipping to Churchill Downs.

VALADORNA “GREAT” AFTER
HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE VICTORY

Stonestreet Stable’s Valadorna is doing well the morning after recording her first graded stakes win in Friday’s Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3), reported David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse.

“She’s great, she cleaned up her feed,” Carroll said. “She was training great, but you still have to go out and win the race.”

Valadorna, who scored her first career win at Keeneland in October 2016, was second by three-quarters of a length in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita in 2016. Her next-closest finish in a graded stakes was a third in the 2017 Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Carroll said Casse and Stonestreet will discuss where the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin will run next, but that the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) in June at Churchill Downs likely will be considered.

“That’s a mile and an eighth and would be perfect for her,” Carroll said. “Whether she runs before that, I don’t know.”

Trainer Brendan Walsh had no immediate plans for Apologynotaccepted, who ran a game second to Valadorna after setting all the early fractions.

“She is a nice filly and I was very pleased with her,” Walsh said. “She has always shown speed and has good form. She ran to within 2 lengths of Dallas Stewart’s mare (champion Forever Unbridled) in last year’s Fleur De Lis (Handicap, G2 at Churchill Downs).”

The $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) at 1 1/8 miles at Pimlico on May 18 remains a possibility for Jenda’s Agenda, who pressed the pace before fading to 11th.

“That was our plan, and I am not ruling it out just because of this race,” trainer and co-owner Larry Jones said. “It may be just that you can draw a line through the race.” 

GALLOPING OUT

Jockey Jose Ortiz won three races on Friday’s program, marking the third time during Keeneland’s 2018 Spring Meet he has had a riding triple. The 24-year-old native of Puerto Rico, who began riding in the U.S. in 2012 and won the 2017 Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding jockey, enters today’s program with 1,498 victories. He is named on six mounts this afternoon. …

Keeneland racing analyst Tom Leach interviewed trainer Tim Glyshaw about Bullards Alley in today’s Dixiana Elkhorn (G2). …

Undefeated Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select winner Gas Station Sushi worked a half-mile in :49.60 after the renovation break under Joe Steiner for trainer Richard Baltas.

“She did it very easily,” said David Meah, assistant to Baltas. “Joe worked her before the last race too and said she is in perfect shape. She will work here again Friday if the weather stays good and then go to Churchill Downs next Saturday or Sunday (for the $200,000 Eight Belles-G2 on May 4).”

Gas Station Sushi is owned by Riley Racing Stables, Jason and Megan Tackitt and Mike Hensen. …

Bruce Lunsford and Hoolie Racing Stable’s Admiralty Pier, third in the opening-day Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3), won the Sovereign Award this week as Canada’s champion 2-year-old male of 2017.
Trainer Barbara Minshall said Admiralty Pier is scheduled to run next in the $300,000 American Turf (G2) on May 5 at Churchill Downs. …

Trainer Chris Davis recorded his first Keeneland victory when Town and Country Racing’s Moonlit Garden captured Friday’s seventh race. One of three winners on the 10-race card for jockey Jose Ortiz, the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly won the 1 1/16-mile allowance race by a length in 1:44.21.

“Winning at Keeneland is special,” Davis said. “I have been training Moonlit Garden for about a year and she is very honest with a lot of second- and third-place finishes. She tries hard every time and it is nice that she is just now figuring out how to win.”

PROSPECTIVE FIELD FOR CLOSING-DAY BEWITCH

$150,000 Bewitch (G3) (Entries taken Sunday; race Friday, April 27) – Probable: Coco Channel (Charlie LoPresti), Daddys Lil Darling (trainer Kenny McPeek), Daring Duchess (Mike Maker), Ickymasho (GB) (Roger Attfield), Mom’s On Strike (Joe Sharp), Proud Reunion (Tom Proctor).
 
SPRING MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
The Keeneland Library is paying tribute to Pierre Bellocq, the internationally celebrated artist better known as “Peb,” with the exhibit “Artistry of Peb: Fifty Years of Features” and a virtual exhibit on Keeneland.com titled “The Artistry of Peb.” “Artistry of Peb” showcases 18 of Bellocq’s features from The Morning Telegraph and Daily Racing Form spanning the mid-1950s to the mid-2000s. This work solidified Peb’s renown as an artistic commentator of the Thoroughbred racing industry. The Keeneland Library is free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Official Keeneland Tours – Keeneland offers a selection of guided tours, including Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tours and a Backstretch Tour and Day at the Races.
Sunday, April 22
The Keeneland Shop’s Milliners Corner presents Dorfman Pacific adjacent to the Walking Ring.
Military Day at the Races Presented by Marathon. Keeneland recognizes the men and women who serve our country. All active-duty, reserve, veterans and military families will receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating with military I.D. Military families will join us in the North Terrace from noon to 4 p.m. for free food and children’s activities. Keeneland will have a setup in the Paddock area for patrons to write letters to deployed service members.
 
SPRING MEET LEADERS
Through April 20 (11 days of 16-day season)
Jockey Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses
Florent Geroux 59 12 10 3 $766,901
Jose Ortiz 71 11 10 12 $1,305,277
Corey Lanerie 63 10 10 5 $594,932
Brian J. Hernandez Jr. 52 9 5 6 $633,975
Joel Rosario 41 8 9 11 $543,099
Gabriel Saez 28 7 1 4 $309,194

Trainer Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses
Chad Brown 19 10 3 2 $1,433,810
Wesley Ward 28 9 7 3 $507,038
Brad Cox 18 8 1 1 $565,271
Bret Calhoun 12 5 1 2 $401,820
Kenny McPeek 27 4 7 2 $387,736
Tom Amoss 14 4 2 2 $93,630
Larry Jones 10 4 1 2 $144,985

Military Day at the Races – Sunday, April 22 – Keeneland

WHAT: Military Day at the Races Presented by Marathon recognizes the men and women of the armed forces and their families. All active and inactive members of the military and their families receive free general admission with a military ID.

As a way for Keeneland to participate in #LexGiveBack week, Keeneland employees and patrons can write letters to deployed service members in partnership with Military Missions. Look for a tent near the Paddock staffed by Keeneland employees.
Following Race 3 (post time 2:12 p.m. ET), a 40’ x 60’ American flag will be unfurled on Keeneland’s main track.

From noon-4 p.m. ET, the North Terrace will feature free food and children’s activities for military families.

WHEN: Sunday, April 22. Gates open at 11 a.m. Post time for the first race is 1:05 p.m.

Military Day Photo Opportunities:

Noon Presentation of Colors by Eastern Kentucky University ROTC followed by National Anthem performed by Cheyenne Jennings.

12:45 p.m. Jockeys, military brass and Marathon officials with camouflage saddle towels in the Walking Ring.

2:12 p.m. Race 3 – Horses will wear camouflage saddle towels. Flag rollout by Henry Clay High School’s Junior ROTC immediately follows Winner’s Circle presentation.