Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, Oct. 11

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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• JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE WINNER CONCRETE ROSE WILL BE LAST-MINUTE BREEDERS’ CUP ARRIVAL
• RUSHING FALL BIDS FOR THIRD KEENELAND STAKES WIN IN QUEEN ELIZABETH II PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
• TRAINER MOTION COULD DELIVER MESSAGE IN QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
• TRAINER MCPEEK MULLING OPTIONS FOR PRINCESS WARRIOR
• GIRLS KNOW BEST STEPS UP TO GRADED RANKS IN BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY
• GALLOPING OUT
• UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
• FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
• FALL MEET LEADERS

JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE WINNER CONCRETE ROSE
WILL BE LAST-MINUTE BREEDERS’ CUP ARRIVAL
Trainer Rusty Arnold reported Thursday that Concrete Rose was “excellent” the morning after her 3-length victory in the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2).
Owned by Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing, Concrete Rose earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.
“We will stay here as long as we can and probably go over the Tuesday of Breeders’ Cup week (Oct. 30),” Arnold said. “If it was dirt that would be different to get her used to it but not with the turf. She handled soft courses at Saratoga and Keeneland, so she should handle that one.”
Now undefeated in two starts, Concrete Rose sat just off the pace in the early going, found clear running at the head of the stretch under Jose Lezcano and drew off easily for the victory.
“It looked like he had a lot of horse early,” Arnold said. “The only question was if she would finish as well going two turns as she did one and she did.”
Concrete Rose would represent Arnold’s 10th Breeders’ Cup starter and only the second 2-year-old in the group.
“I ran Wicked Style (for Ashbrook) in the Juvenile in the deluge at Monmouth,” Arnold said of the sloppy conditions at the New Jersey track in 2007.
“I haven’t won one yet, but there are lots of guys in the same boat. A lot of things have to go your way and you’ve got to get lucky. The only negative for her is there is so little time between races, but you can’t do anything about that.”
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Pakhet finished second in the race.
“We were very pleased with her,” said Ginny DePasquale, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, adding the filly likely would remain at Keeneland for a while with her next start to be determined.

RUSHING FALL BIDS FOR THIRD KEENELAND STAKES WIN
IN QUEEN ELIZABETH II PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
Keeneland fans should be familiar with e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Rushing Fall, one of trainer Chad Brown’s many talented turf fillies who have raced at Keeneland. On Saturday, Rushing Fall will bid for her third Keeneland stakes win in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1).

A year ago, Rushing Fall arrived here for the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) after winning her career debut at Belmont. She captured the Keeneland stakes as the 9-10 favorite and earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), which she also won.

The filly returned to Keeneland in April, making her 2018 debut in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association. After winning that race, Brown indicated he planned to return her for the QE II. In between, she was nailed at the finish of the Edgewood (G3) at Churchill Downs and defeated QE II entrants Capla Temptress (IRE) and Daddy Is a Legend in the Lake Placid (G2) in August.

One member of Brown’s team who has spent a lot of time with Rushing Fall is assistant trainer
Whit Beckman, who mostly has been with the Brown string in New York.

“She’s an even-tempered, quiet filly around the barn,” Beckman, who has worked for Brown for 2½ years, said. “Never had an issue training her. She’s always been pretty honest. She’s just a pleasure to have around. She’s a good one.”

Brown first won the QE II in 2012 with Dayatthespa, who also had won the Appalachian during the Spring Meet Dayatthespa returned to win Keeneland’s 2014 First Lady (G1), and she earned the Eclipse Award that year as champion turf female.

On Oct. 6, he scored his 24th Keeneland stakes victory when A Raving Beauty (GER) took the First Lady.

TRAINER MOTION COULD DELIVER MESSAGE
IN QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
When trainer Graham Motion won the first of his five Grade 1 stakes at Keeneland, the filly that delivered the triumphant performance had been in his barn her entire career.
That was Film Maker back in 2003. Should Secret Message give Motion a second victory in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1), she will do it as a relative newcomer to the stable.
“Bradley Weisbord bought her after her allowance win at Turfway (March 31) for the ownership group and she came to me after that,” Motion said of Secret Message, who is owned in partnership by Madaket Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stable 5 and Bouchey Thoroughbred Ventures.
Once in Motion’s care, Secret Message transitioned to turf where she has compiled a 4-1-2-0 record with the victory coming in the Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington in August.
“She is a lovely, attractive filly and she does everything well in the morning,” Motion said of Secret Message, who was a fast-closing second in her most recent start in the Sands Point (G2) at Belmont on Sept. 15.
“She broke a step slow the first time she ran for us (in the Hilltop at Pimlico) and got stirred up at Churchill Downs (for the Regret-G3 under the lights) and acted up (at the gate).”
In the Pucker Up, she dropped back to the rear of the field after the break, “but it probably looks worse on paper (in the Past Performances), than it was,” Motion said.
Secret Message will be ridden for the first time Saturday by Jorge Vargas Jr.
“This is kind of a tricky weekend for riders with big races at Keeneland, Belmont and Woodbine,” Motion said. “Jorge rides most of my horses locally and I have a lot of confidence in him.”

TRAINER MCPEEK MULLING OPTIONS FOR PRINCESS WARRIOR
Evan, Matthew and Andrew Trommer’s Princess Warrior is undeniably talented, but the extent of her abilities is a question that could be answered Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on turf..
However, trainer Kenny McPeek might opt to scratch from the QE II in favor of the Oct. 19 Pin Oak Valley View (G3), another race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on grass. Entries for the Valley View will be taken the day after the QE II.
“We’ll make the decision on race day,” McPeek said Thursday morning. “She’s going to need her best race of her life to win this spot. I’ll always believe that if you can get black type with a filly – especially Grade 1 black type – then you should chase it. So we’re cautiously optimistic she’ll be competitive in the QE II.
“The Valley View might or might not be an easier spot for her,” he added. “It might end up with 12, 14 horses, so if that’s the case maybe we’re better off running in the eight-horse field in the QE II. It’s not a black-and-white call. It’s all gray.”
McPeek compares Princess Warrior to one of his many other superior fillies, Daddys Lil Darling, who like Princess Warrior was runner-up in the Darley Alicibiades (G1) as a 2-year-old. Daddys Lil Darling was subsequently the runner-up in last year’s QE II as part of her 20-race career in which she earned $1,335,305 and won five times.
Princess Warrior was second in the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12 in her most recent start. Prior to that, she was third in the Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington Park. Her overall record stands at 2-3-2 and $267,941 in 12 trips to the post.

GIRLS KNOW BEST STEPS UP TO GRADED RANKS
IN BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY
Triton Stable, Brian Chenvert and trainer Eddie Kenneally’s Girls Know Best will be in graded stakes company for the first time Friday when she starts in the $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3). The performance comes nearly a year after Chenvert and Kenneally claimed her for $40,000 at Keeneland.
“We claimed her because she knew how to win,” Kenneally said. “She had already won several races prior to us claiming her and she appeared to be in good health and a good, sound, pretty filly.”
For her current connections, Girls Know Best has blossomed into a turf sprint specialist with a pair of stakes victories, in January in the 5-furlong Ladies’ Turf Sprint at Gulfstream and in May in the 5½-furlong The Very One at Pimlico.
“We think her main weapon is her speed,” Kenneally said. “There’s not a lot of really short races for her on the dirt, so we opted to try her on the grass and sure enough it worked out well.”
In the Buffalo Trace Franklin County, Girls Know Best’s rivals will include Chanteline and Morticia, the respective winner and third-place finisher of the Smart N Fancy Aug. 26 at Saratoga. Girls Know Best was second in that race.
Kenneally said Kelly’s Landing, winner of the 2006 Phoenix (G3) at Keeneland, continues to thrive in semi-retirement. The 17-year-old gelding closed his 27-race career at age eight with 10 wins and a $1,853,831 bankroll for his breeder and owner, Summerplace Farm of the Lally family. Kelly’s Landing spends his summers at leisure at Summerplace, located in Lexington, and is scheduled to return to work as a stable pony in the Kenneally barn at Palm Meadows training facility in Florida this winter.

GALLOPING OUT

Keeneland racing analyst Tom Leach interviewed these horsemen about their runners in Friday’s Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3): trainer Al Stall Jr. on Brielle’s Appeal and Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, on Chanteline. …

Boggs Silver Racing’s Small Town Hero, the 52-1 longshot winner of Wednesday’s second race, gave trainer Kim Puhl and jockey Jarred Journet their first Keeneland victories. The 4-year-old Jersey Town gelding won the 6-furlong race by a neck in 1:11.19.

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
$100,000 SYCAMORE (G3) (Entries taken Saturday, Oct. 13; race Thursday, Oct. 18) – Arklow (trainer Brad Cox), Bigger Picture (Mike Maker), Campaign (Steve Asmussen), Can’thelpbelieving (IRE) (Graham Motion), Cooptado (ARG) (Tom Morley), Nessy (Ian Wilkes), Oscar Nominated (Maker), Teodoro (IRE) (Morley).
$150,000 PIN OAK VALLEY VIEW (G3) (Entries taken Sunday Oct. 14; race Friday, Oct. 19) – American Frolic (trainer David Fawkes), Beach Waltz (Mike Maker), Colonia (FR) (Graham Motion), Dark Artist (Jane Cibelli), Get Explicit (Barbara Minshall), High Tech (Ian Wilkes), Mighty Scarlett (Chad Brown), More Fun Again (Tom Proctor), Poetic Charm (GB) (Charles Appleby), Riversethedecision (Brown), Sirenusa (Joe Sharp). Possible: Goodthingstaketime (IRE) (Jorge Abreu).
$250,000 LEXUS RAVEN RUN (G2) (Entries taken Wednesday Oct. 17; race Saturday, Oct. 20) – Alter Moon (trainer Chad Brown), Chauncey (Steve Asmussen), Divine Queen (Buff Bradley), Dream Pauline (Kiaran McLaughlin), Everyonelovesjimmy (Ian Wilkes), Moonshine Memories (Simon Callaghan), Take Charge Paula (McLaughlin).

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
Breeders’ Cup VIP Package. The Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Kentucky Nov. 2-3 at Churchill Downs and 2020 at Keeneland. In celebration, Keeneland fans may enter to win a VIP package to this year’s event. Click here for more information. Enter by 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 15, 2018.
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.”
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 5 p.m. 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.
$300,000-guaranteed Pick Four Presented by TVG.
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. 10 (4 days of 17-day season)
Jockey Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses

Jose Ortiz 21 4 4 3 $338,162
John Velazquez 12 3 3 0 $421,540
Luis Saez 18 3 2 3 $320,792
Chris Landeros 13 3 1 2 $146,174
Julien Leparoux 22 3 1 1 $236,371

Six jockeys tied with two wins each.

Trainer Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses
Todd Pletcher 10 5 2 1 $343,830

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

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