Keeneland Barn Notes – Thursday, April 4
By Amy Owens —-
THURSDAY, APRIL 4 – OPENING DAY – FIRST POST: 3 P.M. ET
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Click here for the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) Weekend microsite dedicated to Keeneland’s April 4-7 opening weekend stakes. See biographies of the connections of horses entered in the 95th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass on Saturday, April 6; history and statistics for the race; and charts and replays. Site also includes history, statistics and charts for the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on April 6, along with complete lists of nominees and past performances for the other stakes on opening weekend.
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First post starting tomorrow and for the remainder of meet is 1:05 p.m. The 16-day season runs through Friday, April 26. Keeneland is closed Easter Sunday, April 21.
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• BROWN SHOOTS FOR FOURTH APPALACHIAN PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION VICTORY WITH REGAL GLORY AND CLAUSE
• MOTHER MOTHER TOPS FIELD OF EIGHT FOR BEAUMONT PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT
• VEKOMA BUCKING HISTORY IN TOYOTA BLUE GRASS QUEST
• MCPEEK-HERNANDEZ AIM FOR RARE DOUBLE SATURDAY
• TRAINERS DISCUSS HORSES IN OPENING WEEKEND STAKES
• UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
• OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS
BROWN SHOOTS FOR FOURTH APPALACHIAN PRESENTED
BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION VICTORY WITH REGAL GLORY AND CLAUSE
Paul Pompa Jr.’s Regal Glory, runner-up in the Sweetest Chant (G3) at Gulfstream Park this winter, heads a field of 11 3-year-old fillies entered Thursday for Sunday’s 31st running of the $200,000 Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2) going a mile on the turf.
The Appalachian will go as the eighth race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a 4:57 p.m. ET post time. First post time Sunday is 1:05 p.m.
Regal Glory is trained by Chad Brown, who has won this race three times this decade with Dayatthespa (2012), Lady Eli (2015) and last year with Rushing Fall. Jose Ortiz, who has been aboard all three times Regal Glory has run, will have the mount Sunday and break from post position nine.
Brown also will send out Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Clause, who won her only career race going a mile at Gulfstream on Feb. 9. Clause will break from post position one under Irad Ortiz Jr.
Also figuring to garner attention from patrons Sunday is Three Chimneys Farm’s homebred Princesa Carolina.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Princesa Carolina came off a four-month layoff to run second in the Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream on March 2. A troubled fifth in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) here last fall, Princesa Carolina will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and break from post position five.
The field for the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association, with riders and weights, from the rail out is: Clause (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118 pounds), Winning Envelope (Carlos Marquez Jr., 118), Catch a Thrill (John Velazquez, 118), The Mackam Bullet (IRE) (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Princesa Carolina (Hernandez Jr., 118), Angel Alessandra (Florent Geroux, 118), Naughty Joker (Javier Castellano, 118), Hard Legacy (Julien Leparoux, 118), Regal Glory (Jose Ortiz, 118), Beautiful Ballad (Adam Beschizza, 118) and Primela (FR) (Luis Saez, 118).
MOTHER MOTHER TOPS FIELD OF EIGHT FOR BEAUMONT
PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT
George Bolton, Barry Hall, Barry Lipman, Mark Mathiesen and Andrew Molasky’s three-time graded stakes-placed Mother Mother headlines a field of eight 3-year-old fillies entered Thursday for Sunday’s 34th running of the $150,000 Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select (G3).
The Beaumont, run over the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet, will go as the seventh race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a 4:24 p.m. ET post time. First post time Sunday is 1:05 p.m.
The Beaumont also is the last points race in Kentucky to qualify for the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run May 3 at Churchill Downs. A total of 17 points are on the line on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top four finishers.
Trained by Bob Baffert, who won this race in 2004 with Victory U.S.A., Mother Mother has spent the winter chasing Bellafina at Santa Anita. Mother Mother was second to that rival in the 7-furlong Santa Ynez (G2) and in her most recent start fourth in the Las Virgenes (G2) on Feb. 9.
Florent Geroux will have the mount and break from post position two.
The field for the Beaumont, with riders and weights, from the rail out is: Shanghai Rain (Gabriel Saez, 118 pounds), Mother Mother (Geroux, 118), Queen of Beas (Jose Ortiz, 118), Another Time (Paco Lopez, 118), Fancy Dress Party (Luis Saez, 118), Power Gal (JPN) (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Iva (John Velazquez, 118) and Feedback (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118).
VEKOMA BUCKING HISTORY IN TOYOTA BLUE GRASS QUEST
R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables’ Vekoma, the morning-line favorite for the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2), will be chasing a bit of history Saturday when he makes his fourth career start.
No horse since Coaltown in 1948 has won the Blue Grass coming into the event with just three lifetime starts, but that is what Vekoma will do Saturday.
“He is a late May foal and after the Nashua (G3) last year he indicated he may need a break so we passed the Remsen (G2) and decided to focus on his 3-year-old campaign,” trainer George Weaver said Thursday morning after Vekoma galloped on the main track under exercise rider Heather Coots.
Vekoma returned to the races March 2 with a third-place finish in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Manny Franco was aboard that day but on Saturday, Javier Castellano will have the mount.
“We were late to commit to the Blue Grass because we had considered the (Xpressbet) Florida Derby (G1 on March 30),” Weaver said. “Manny’s agent already had made commitments to ride this Saturday at Aqueduct. Javier worked him last Saturday (at Palm Beach Downs training center in Florida).”
Earlier on the card Saturday, Weaver will shoot for his second victory in the Commonwealth (G3).
R.A. Hill Stable’s Majestic Dunhill will break from the 14 hole in the 7-furlong sprint under Irad Ortiz Jr.
“The 14 is OK because there is plenty of backstretch and he is not up with the early pace,” said Weaver, who won the race in 2010 with Together Indy.
Majestic Dunhill made the first nine starts of his 12-race career on the grass, but things changed last fall after he finished second in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
“As a 3-year-old last year, we thought he was a turf sprinter, so there was no need to change,” Weaver said. “But after the stakes at Kentucky Downs, he worked brilliantly on the dirt at Belmont. Then he won the City of Laurel Stakes and that was probably his best race.”
In his lone start of 2019, Majestic Dunhill was a fast-closing runner-up in the General George (G3) at Laurel on Feb. 16.
MCPEEK-HERNANDEZ AIM FOR RARE DOUBLE SATURDAY
Trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be trying to pull off a rare Central Bank Ashland-Toyota Blue Grass double on Saturday. The duo has Restless Rider in the Central Bank Ashland (G1) and come back in the next race with Signalman in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2).
Six trainers and six jockeys have won both races the same year with three trainer-jockey combos completing the sweep.
McPeek is the most recent trainer to sweep with Take Charge Lady and Harlan’s Holiday in 2002. Jockey Mike Smith is the most recent rider to sweep in 1994 with Inside Information and Holy Bull.
“That would be a good weekend,” Hernandez said. “Both horses are doing well and I have worked both of them. Vekoma is the favorite for the Blue Grass and he only beat Signalman four lengths in the Fountain of Youth, and now my horse has a race under his belt.”
The three trainer-jockey combinations to sweep the Ashland and Blue Grass in the same year are LeRoy Jolley and Braulio Baeza in 1976, Woody Stephens and Conn McCreary in 1949 and Ben Jones and N.L. Pierson in 1948.
TRAINERS DISCUSS HORSES IN OPENING WEEKEND STAKES
Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach talked to these trainers about their horses entered in the Spring Meet’s opening weekend stakes:
Brooke Baker, assistant to her husband, Rodolphe Brisset, trainer of The Black Album (FR), in Friday’s Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3).
Neil Pessin, trainer of Bell’s the One, in Saturday’s Central Bank Ashland (G1).
UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
$300,000 MAKER’S 46 MILE (G1) (Entries taken Sunday, April 7; race Friday, April 12) – Doctor Mounty (trained by Shug McGaughey), Great Wide Open (IRE) (Conor Murphy), Heart to Heart (Brian Lynch), Hembree (Mike Maker), Qurbaan (Kiaran McLaughlin), Raging Bull (FR) (Chad Brown) and Synchrony (Mike Stidham).
$100,000 LIMESTONE TURF SPRINT (Entries taken Sunday, April 7; race Friday, April 12) – Beechwood Ella (IRE) (Patrick Biancone), Blame the Frog (Ben Colebrook), Bohemian Bourbon (Ian Wilkes), Catherinethegreat (Mark Casse), Elle’s Town (Tracey Glover), O’Keefe (Larry Rivelli), Thriving (GB) (Jeff Mullins) and Vinca (Mike Maker). Possible: Eyeinthesky (Mark Casse).
$350,000 COOLMORE JENNY WILEY (G1) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Got Stormy (Mark Casse), Onthemoonagain (FR) (Chad Brown), Princess Warrior (Kenny McPeek), Rushing Fall (Brown) and Rymska (FR) (Brown).
$200,000 STONESTREET LEXINGTON (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Anothertwistafate (Blaine Wright), Chase the Ghost (Dallas Stewart), Durkin’s Call (Bill Mott), Owendale (Brad Cox), Skywire (Mark Casse), Sueno (Keith Desormeaux) and Zenden (Victor Barboza Jr.). Possible: Knicks Go (Ben Colebrook) and Preamble (Rodolphe Brisset).
$200,000 BEN ALI (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Bourbon Resolution (Ian Wilkes), Flameaway (Mark Casse) and Noble Commander (Phil D’Amato).
$100,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (L) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Excessivespending (Chris Hartman), La Dame Blanche (Ian Wilkes), Mrs. Ramona G. (Jeremiah Englehart) and Student Body (Chris Davis).
OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the Keeneland Library is one of the world’s largest repositories of information related to the Thoroughbred. In its exhibit “Herbert Haseltine: The Gold Standard,” visitors will see two prominent works from the latter period of the acclaimed sculptor of the early 20th century: “The Thoroughbred Horse” and “Portrait of the Racehorse Tom Fool.” The exhibit “From the Vault: Jockeys” features 26 images dating from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century from the Library’s archive of more than 1 million negatives and photographic prints. Varied memorabilia from Hall of Fame jockeys Eddie Arcaro, Ted Atkinson and Bill Shoemaker accompany the photographs. The Library is open weekdays at no charge from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official Keeneland Tours – Keeneland offers a selection of year-round, guided racing and sales tours, including Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tours, Owner’s Experience Tours and Backstretch Tours with a Day at the Races. Behind-the-Scenes Sales Tours will be offered April 8-9. On Saturdays during Sunrise Trackside, free guided tours begin every 20 minutes from the welcome stand near the Paddock and Walking Ring from 7:30-10 a.m.
Thursday, April 4 – Opening day – First post 3 p.m.
Central Bank Thursday Night Live at Keeneland – The Zach Longoria Project will perform in the Paddock area from 7-8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 5
The Hill – Fans who like to tailgate will enjoy the festive atmosphere of The Hill, where they can watch races on a jumbo TV and place wagers. The Hill also features food trucks, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and complimentary shuttles to the track. On Saturdays, bluegrass music presented by The Burl, a popular live music venue in Lexington, will perform from noon to 4 p.m.
College Scholarship Day – Full-time college students from Kentucky and beyond will vie for $30,000 in scholarships on College Scholarship Day, which Keeneland holds in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Two $10,000 Runhappy Scholarships will be awarded in addition to $1,000 scholarships awarded after each of the day’s 10 races. One Runhappy Scholarship and one of the $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who work in the Thoroughbred industry or have parents who work in the industry. Pre-register online by 5 p.m. April 4 to pass the line. Students receive free general admission April 5 and can register at the College Zone in the North Terrace, which will have music, free snacks and prize drawings.
$200,000 Friday Pick Four Presented by TVG. Includes races 7-10.
The Keeneland Shop Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore Millinery (April 4-6) and Trunk Show with Darren K. Moore (April 4-6) and Maui Jim (April 5-6).
Saturday, April 6
Sunrise Trackside – The day begins early for racehorses. Keeneland invites you and your family to experience their mornings with Breakfast With the Works, which features breakfast for purchase and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.) while horses train on the main track. The event includes children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); guided Keeneland tours that depart from the welcome stand near the Paddock (7:30-10 a.m.) and Paddock demonstration of a farrier from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital (9-9:30 a.m). Parking and admission to the morning events are free.
Q&A with jockey Javier Castellano. 12:05 p.m. in the Walking Ring.
The Hill – Fans who like to tailgate will enjoy the festive atmosphere of The Hill, where they can watch races on a jumbo TV and place wagers. The Hill also features food trucks, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and complimentary shuttles to the track. On Saturdays, bluegrass music presented by The Burl, a popular live music venue in Lexington, will perform from noon to 4 p.m.
The Keeneland Shop Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore Millinery (April 4-6) and Trunk Show with Darren K. Moore (April 4-6) and Maui Jim (April 5-6).
$300,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five (races 6-10) and $400,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four (races 7-10) Presented by TVG
NYRA Cross Country Wager featuring the Toyota Blue Grass (G2), Central Bank Ashland (G1) and Madison (G1) from Keeneland and the Wood Memorial (G2) and a second race from Aqueduct.
Sunday, April 7
Kids Club Family Day – The Keeneland Kids Club is our Official Kids Club for fans 12 and younger. Members and their families are invited to 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.
TVG-PDJF Telethon – Hall of Fame jockeys and TVG personalities at Keeneland and Santa Anita will participate in a second telethon to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) live on TVG. Racing fans and industry stakeholders may call, chat and contribute at
1-844-TVG-PDJF from noon to 7 p.m. ET. Donations are accepted any time at https://pdjf.org/donate/. Last year’s inaugural telethon raised nearly $230,000.
Tuesday, April 9
Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale – The auction, free and open to the public, begins in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion at 2 p.m.
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