Handicapping: Six Graded Stakes headline Keeneland Saturday; Full-Card Selections

By Rick Francis —-

The abbreviated Keeneland meet enters into its final weekend with a bang as six graded stakes headline the card, three of the Grade 1 variety along with a berth in the 146th Kentucky Derby with the running of the Grade 2 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes; it all makes for a great day of racing and wagering so let’s have a look at the selections.

KEENELAND

First Post Time: ( 1:05)/12:05/11:05/10:05
ADVANCED FORECAST: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, High 87, Low 67

Race 5) 7 Furlongs. Madison S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Post Time: ( 3:18)/ 2:18/ 1:18/12:18

Three Chimneys Farm & Hill and Dale’s filly out of Ghostzapper, Guarana (5), looks as formidable on paper as she does on the track winning 4-of-5 along with a second in her career. An in-hand win last month at Churchill shows she loves the slight distance cutback and once again be the one to beat.

Amy’s Challenge (9) exits a pair of seconds at Oaklawn and should once again provide the early pace for the top choice to catch.

Stonestreet Stables pricey mare out of Into Mischief, Mia Mischief (7) weakened late in return last month but the 10-time winner knows how to get it done and will be ready to fire.

Finally a coin-flip for superfecta and Super-Hi5 wagers, Wildwood’s Beauty (2) enters having placed in four straight, all at today’s distance, and Bell’s the One (8), whose Grade 3 Winning Colors score last month registered the field’s highest last out speed figure.

Selections: 5, 9, 7 (2+8)

Race 7) 1&1/16th Mile. Central Bank Ashland S. Grade I. Purse $400,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
Post Time: ( 4:24)/ 3:24/ 2:24/ 1:24

Eclipse Thoroughbred and Madake’s bay filly out of Mr. Speaker, Speech (6), has been the “bridesmaid” in four straight, the last two against arguably two of the finest horses in the country, Gamine and Swiss Skydiver; knocking on the door for awhile, kicks it in here.

Envoutante (4) exits a solid near the rear to first win over Churchill first-level allowance girls and these are the kind of spots trainer Kenny McPeek sneaks one in at a price.

Venetian Harbor (2) and Bonny South (3), the Fair Grounds Oaks champion, are both rested with the latter winning two at the route.

Selections: 6, 4, 2, 3

Race 8) 1&1/16th Mile. (Turf) Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. Grade I. Purse $350,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 4:57)/ 3:57/ 2:57/ 1:57

It will extremely hard not to make E Five Racing’s 5-year-old by More Than Ready, Rushing Fall (4) your single in multi-race wagers, as this mare has won 9-of-12 including 2019’s running. A 4-time over the Keeneland lawn with three wins and a second from four starts at the distance; beat her????

Adding Altea (7), also out of the Chad Brown barn, along with Jolie Olimpica (6) and Julie Foxtrot (2) underneath you might get a return on exotic plays.

Selections: 4 w/ 7, 6, 2

Race 9) 1&1/8th Mile. Toyota Blue Grass S. Grade II. Purse $600,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
Post Time: ( 5:30)/ 4:30/ 3:30/ 2:30

Going with a Bernardini colt, Art Collector (3) to upset the dangerous filly Swiss Skydiver (7). Both enter having won three straight, with the former a bit more value than the filly for the top spot.

As long as we’re on value plays, a Dale Romans conditioned colt by Hard Spun, Attachment Rate (9) and from the tough Bret Calhoun shed Mr. Big News (4) should bring it.

Selections: 3, 7, 9, 4

Full Card Selections

Race 1) 8, 2, 4, 6
Race 2) 11, 6, 9, 8
Race 3) 9, 11, 12, (5+4)
Race 4) Grade 2 Appalachian 4, 2, 3, 6
Race 5) Grade 1 Madison 5, 9, 7, (2+8)
Race 6) Grade 2 Shakertown 2, 5, 13, 8
Race 7) Grade 1 Ashland 6, 4, 2, 3
Race 8) Grade 1 Jenny Wiley 4/ 7, 6, 2
Race 9) Grade 2 Bluegrass 3, 7, 9, 4
Race 10) 2, 5, 3, 10