Keeneland Barn Notes –Tuesday, Oct. 9

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet concludes Saturday, Oct. 27, with racing
Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 pm. ET.

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• CONCRETE ROSE STRETCHES OUT FOR JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE
• EUROPEANS BEGIN KEENELAND WORK FOR SATURDAY’S QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
• GALLOPING OUT
• FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
• FALL MEET LEADERS

CONCRETE ROSE STRETCHES OUT FOR JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE
Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing’s Concrete Rose, an impressive maiden winner in August at Saratoga going 5½ furlongs, will try to punch her ticket to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) with a victory in Wednesday’s 28th running of the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
“She is very talented and done exceptional here. I hope she gets us to Nov. 2 (for the Breeders’ Cup),” trainer Rusty Arnold said Tuesday morning. “Her pedigree (Twirling Candy out of a Powerscourt [GB] mare) says she should get the distance. She has breezed and galloped like she should.”
Arnold had entered Concrete Rose against the boys for last Sunday’s Dixiana Bourbon (G3) at the same distance.
“I was worried we would not get in (the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine) because of the conditioned eligibility of the race,” Arnold said. “There were only a few spots available, and there were five fillies that didn’t get in. I didn’t want to be unlucky.
“They entered for the Bourbon Thursday and the Jessamine Friday and once we got in, we had no intention of running in the Bourbon.”
Jose Lezcano, who was aboard for the maiden victory, has the mount Wednesday.
On Friday, Arnold will send out G Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Morticia in the 22nd running of the $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) for fillies and mares going 5½ furlongs on the turf.
“She is doing great and ready to go defend her title,” Arnold said of Morticia, who could join Ayrial Delight (1998-1999) as the only horse to win the race in consecutive years.
Morticia has compiled a 14-7-3-3 record on the grass with her only off-the-board finish coming in the Caress at Saratoga this summer over a soft course.
“She doesn’t really like it soft and there is rain in the forecast (for the next two days),” Arnold said. “But you can’t do anything about the weather.”

EUROPEANS BEGIN KEENELAND WORK FOR SATURDAY’S
QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
Group 2 winners Mission Impassible (IRE) and Nyaleti (IRE), Sunday arrivals for Saturday’s $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) for 3-year-old fillies, cleared quarantine and Tuesday morning were on the Keeneland training track for light exercise.
Nyaleti, owned by 3 Battenhams and a Reay, has made her second trip to North America this year. She finished sixth in the Beverly D. (G1) at Arlington on Aug. 11.
“She was stuck inside coming into the final bend and couldn’t get out,” said exercise rider Hayley Kelly, who accompanied the filly to Chicago. “She probably would have finished in the top three if she had gotten out.”
As it was, Nyaleti was only beaten 2¾ lengths by Sistercharlie (IRE). That showing contributed to the connections accepting the invitation to the QE II.
“She is a good traveler and is very happy here,” said Kelly, who is making her first visit to Keeneland. “If she runs well Saturday, she will probably stay for the Breeders’ Cup (Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs).”
Mark Johnston trains Nyaleti, but he will not be here for the race. Kelly said the trainer’s wife, Deirdre, would be here Thursday night.
Mission Impassible, owned by Mohammed Hamad Khalifa Al-Attiyah, made her first trip outside of Europe to come here. Exercise rider Jerome Viaud said the daughter of Galileo (IRE) has settled in well.
Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Mission Impassible brings Viaud back to Keeneland for the first time in 12 years.
“I was here in 2006 for the same race with Singhalese (GB),” Viaud said.
Rouget is not scheduled to be here for the race.
The other probable starters for the QE II are Beyond Blame (trainer Brad Cox), Capla Temptress (IRE) (Bill Mott), Daddy Is a Legend (George Weaver), Fatale Bere (FR) (Leonard Powell), Princess Warrior (Kenny McPeek), Rushing Fall (Chad Brown) and Secret Message (Graham Motion).
Entries will be taken Wednesday.

GALLOPING OUT
P.K. Siu’s Indian Blessing (GB), a fast-closing third in Saturday’s $400,000 First Lady (G1), will remain at Keeneland for a bit longer instead of returning home to Europe tomorrow.
“We are going to stay awhile,” exercise rider Charles Guet said after taking Indian Blessing to the training track for her morning exercise. “She is going to go to Belmont sometime. They are working out the details today.”

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
Through Spring 2019
Keeneland Library exhibit “From the Vault: Historic Tracks.” This exhibit features 26 select images from the Library’s archive that showcase tracks from the early 20th century. Pioneering Turf photographers John C. Hemment and Charles Christian Cook are featured, with additional representation from Joel Clyne Meadors and Robert Lee McClure, among others. The Library is open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
The online exhibit “Photo Treasures from the Keeneland Library” presents nearly 100 other historic images of U.S. racing facilities in its “Tracks Gallery.”
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Backstretch Tour and Owner’s Experience Tour. Click here for more information about these tours and other Official Keeneland Tours.
WINS-Day Challenge Sponsored by Malone’s. 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. The winners received $1,250 with money distributed through 10th place. Limit three entries per person
Thursday, Oct. 11
Tour Keeneland, Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tour and Owner’s Experience Tour. Click here for more information about these tours and other Official Keeneland Tours.
11th Anniversary Make-A-Wish Day. Keeneland and local Thoroughbred farms and organizations are teaming up to grant wishes for deserving children, who with their families will receive a VIP experience that includes meeting jockeys and presenting a trophy after each race.
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.
In support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Tito’s Vodka will make a $2 donation for every sale of Keeneland Lemonade during the Fall Meet. Through the “Wishes for the Win” campaign, patrons can take part in granting an additional wish by making a donation.
Friday, Oct. 12
Tour Keeneland, Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tour and Owner’s Experience Tour. Click here for more information these tours and other Official Keeneland Tours.

College Scholarship Day. Full-time college students receive free general admission and the chance to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships awarded after each race. In addition, two $10,000 Runhappy Scholarships (one of which is only available to a student with a tie to the horse industry) will be awarded. Preregistration is available online at Keeneland.com/CSD (through Thursday, Oct. 11) and in Keeneland’s College Zone in the North Terrace, where students can enjoy music, free food and prize drawings.
Buffalo Trace VIP Distillery Experience Drawing and Giveaway. The first 2,000 patrons to enter to win a VIP Buffalo Trace Distillery Experience will receive one Buffalo Trace string bag and sunglasses. The drawing and giveaway, located trackside from Elevator C under the Grandstand, opens at 11 a.m. The giveaway continues until supplies last.
The Hill (weather permitting) – Keeneland’s designated tailgate lot offers fans a jumbo screen TV to watch live racing, wager, enjoy local food trucks and take free shuttles to the Grandstand.
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Maui Jim and Dorfman Pacific.

$200,000-guaranteed Friday Pick Four Presented by TVG.

Saturday, Oct. 13
Sunrise Trackside. Thoroughbreds and their human connections begin the day well before sunrise. See what they’re up to during Sunrise Trackside, 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 racehorses train on the main track; children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); free guided Keeneland tours (7:30-10 a.m.); Paddock demonstration with Dr. Casey Cromer of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital (9 a.m.); and Q&A session with a jockey in the Paddock (12:05 p.m.).
The Hill (weather permitting). Keeneland’s designated tailgate lot offers fans a jumbo screen TV to watch live racing and football, wagering, live music, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand.

The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Maui Jim and Dorfman Pacific.

Keeneland Fall Handicapping Challenge. The handicapping contest has a $400 buy-in with a live bankroll of $250 and $150 prize fund fee. Click here for more information.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Owner’s Experience Tour. Click here for more information about this tour and other Official Keeneland Tours.

The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Maui Jim and Dorfman Pacific.

Secretariat Festival Meet and Greet Scenes from the movie “Secretariat” were filmed at Keeneland in 2009, and Keeneland will welcome fans of the legendary horse and those attending the Secretariat Festival. Otto Thorwarth, who portrayed Ron Turcotte in the movie, and Keith Austin, who was Laffit Pincay Jr., will be joined by Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat’s late owner, Penny Chenery; and Bill Doolittle, author of The Day Time Didn’t Stand Still, for a meet and greet near the Walking Ring from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Kids Club Family Day. The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for fans 12 and younger. On this day, Kids Club members and their families will enjoy a special day at the races with 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.
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 Churchill Downs and 10 spots in the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas in February 2019. The entry fee of $3,000 ($2,000 live bankroll and $1,000 prize fund). The Challenge is limited to 200 individual players.

FALL MEET LEADERS
Through Oct. 7 (3 days of 17-day season)
Jockey Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses

Jose Ortiz 15 4 2 3 $309,506
Julien Leparoux 18 3 1 1 $233,441

Eight jockeys tied with two wins each.
Trainer Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses
Todd Pletcher 8 4 1 1 $290,030

Five trainers tied with two wins each.
Owner Wins
John C. Oxley 2

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