Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, Oct. 7

By Amy Owens —-

THURSDAY, OCT. 7

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet opens tomorrow and runs through Saturday, Oct. 30.
Post time for the first race each day is 1 p.m. ET. No racing Mondays and Tuesdays.

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· TIZ THE BOMB TOPS OVERFLOW FIELD FOR CASTLE & KEY BOURBON

· UNDEFEATED AVERLY JANE HEADLINES FIELD OF 10 FOR INDIAN SUMMER PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

· EXTRAVAGANT KID BACK HOME AND READY TO GO IN WOODFORD PRESENTED BY TVG

· DIODORO’S DREAM LITH COMES IN UNDER THE RADAR FOR DARLEY ALCIBIADES

· TRAINERS DISCUSS FALL STARS FRIDAY STAKES HORSES

· POTENTIAL FIELD FOR THE JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE

· FALL STARS WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

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TIZ THE BOMB TOPS FIELD OF 14 FOR CASTLE & KEY BOURBON

Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Tiz the Bomb, winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile in his most recent start, headlines a field of 14 2-year-olds plus two also-eligibles entered Thursday for Sunday’s 31st running of the $200,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

The Castle & Key Bourbon is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The Castle & Key Bourbon will go as the final race on Sunday’s 10-race program with a 5:46 p.m. ET post time.

Trained by two-time race winner Kenny McPeek, Tiz the Bomb notched his first victory in his second start, a 14¼-length blowout going a mile on the dirt at Ellis Park. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount Sunday and will exit post position 12.

Another Kentucky Downs winner who figures to attract attention is Silverton Hill’s Red Danger.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Red Danger has won two of three starts with his most recent score coming in the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint (L) going 6½ furlongs on Sept. 9. Luis Saez, who has been aboard for all three of Red Danger’s starts, has the call Sunday and will exit post position 10.

The field for the Castle & Key Bourbon, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Brit’s Wit (David Flores, 118 pounds), Stolen Base (Flavien Prat, 118), Dowagiac Chief (James Graham, 118), Martini’nmoonshine (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Rocket One (Julien Leparoux, 118), Credibility (Edwin Gonzalez, 118), Fast N Steady (Leonel Reyes, 118), Waita Minute Hayes (Mitchell Murrill, 118), On Thin Ice (Corey Lanerie, 118), Red Danger (Saez, 118), Heaven Street (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118), Tiz the Bomb (Hernandez Jr., 120), Lucky Boss (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118), Play Action Pass (Edgard Zayas, 118). Also-Eligibles: Vivar (Florent Geroux, 118), Red Run (Santana Jr., 118).

UNDEFEATED AVERLY JANE HEADLINES FIELD OF 10
FOR INDIAN SUMMER PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

Hat Creek Racing’s undefeated Averly Jane tops a field of 10 2-year-olds entered Thursday for Sunday’s fourth running of the $200,000 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select going 5½ furlongs on the turf.

The Indian Summer, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar on Nov. 5, will go as the eighth race Sunday with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who won the 2019 Indian Summer with the filly Kimari, Averly Jane is one of two fillies in the race for Ward along with Gregory Kaufman’s Kaufymaker.

Averly Jane has won her three starts by a combined 19¼ lengths with stakes victories coming in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs and the Skidmore at Saratoga. She won at first asking at Keeneland as did Kaufymaker, who enters Sunday’s race off a third-place finish in the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint (L) at Kentucky Downs last month.

Tyler Gaffalione has the call on Averly Jane from post seven, while Irad Ortiz Jr. will pilot Kaufymaker from post two. The two entrants are the race’s lone fillies.

Trainer Mark Casse, who sent out Strike Silver to win the inaugural Indian Summer in 2018, is back this year with Canadian invader Diamond City.

Owned by D. J. Stable, Diamond City has won one of three starts at Woodbine with the victory coming in his most recent start in the Ontario Racing Stakes (L) on Sept. 19 going 5 furlongs. Diamond City will start from post position 10 and be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

The field for the Indian Summer, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Sonnyisnotsofunny (Luis Saez, 118 pounds), Kaufymaker (Ortiz Jr., 115), Detroit City (Adam Beschizza, 118), Pure Panic (Flavien Prat, 118), Big Boss Ben (Reylu Gutierrez, 118), Bonus Appreciation (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Averly Jane (Gaffalione, 117), Roman Poet (Florent Geroux, 118), Circle Back Jack (Robby Albarado, 118), Diamond City (Leparoux, 120).

EXTRAVAGANT KID BACK HOME AND READY TO GO
IN WOODFORD PRESENTED BY TVG

DARRS Inc.’s Extravagant Kid is refreshed and ready to make a fourth run in Saturday’s $200,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Runner-up in the Woodford last year, Extravagant Kid comes into the 5½-furlong grass test off a three-month layoff following an off-the-board finish in the Darley July Cup (G1) at Newmarket.

“He came back here a week after the Darley Cup, and he is doing super fantastic,” Walsh said.

Extravagant Kid went to Dubai in March and won the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1). He ventured overseas again a couple months later and ran third in the King’s Stand (G1) at Royal Ascot in England.

“He stayed in Europe for the two races, and I have found shipping horses overseas they seem to run best straight off the plane,” Walsh said. “Then they seem to hit a little lull after that. In the Darley Cup, he was poorly drawn and never got covered up.”

Jose Ortiz will have the mount Saturday on Extravagant Kid, who finished fifth in the race in 2019 and third in 2018.

Walsh also reported that Godolphin’s Maxfield, runner-up in the Woodward (G1) on Oct. 2 at Belmont Park, has rejoined his barn here. Maxfield is to prepare for an expected run in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

DIODORO’S DREAM LITH COMES IN UNDER THE RADAR
FOR DARLEY ALCIBIADES

Last fall at Keeneland, trainer Robertino Diodoro’s Keepmeinmind did not attract a lot of interest at the betting windows for the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), being dismissed at 52-1 odds while finishing second and then a month later going off at 30-1 in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in which he finished third.

On Friday, Diodoro will send out Dream Lith for Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Benewith in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) as a 15-1 morning-line proposition in the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.

Unlike Keepmeinmind, who was a maiden going into the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Dream Lith has a win on her resume followed by a fifth-place finish in the Spinaway (G1). Both races were at Saratoga.

“She had a rough trip in the Spinaway, and she was a little washy in the paddock,” Diodoro said. “And, maybe she came back a little quick. It was just bad luck, and we ran into a monster in Echo Zulu.”

Like many fillies in the race, which will provide the winner with a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 5, Dream Lith will be trying two turns for the first time.

“I think two turns is what she will want,” Diodoro said. “We were surprised the way she won her first start (going 6½ furlongs at 36-1 odds) and I think this is what she wants to do.”

As for the multiple graded stakes-placed Keepmeinmind, he is back at Keeneland.

“We are giving him a break and working on the abscess (in his left front that kept him out of the Pennsylvania Derby-G1),” Diodoro said. “Once that is cleared, he will go to the farm for some
R & R and get ready for a 4-year-old campaign.”

POTENTIAL FIELD FOR THE JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE

The JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) on Oct. 13 is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race. Entries will be taken Friday. Probable starters are Bhoma (Kenny McPeek), Blissful (Cherie DeVaux), Boxing Day (Brendan Walsh), Decree of Love (Mike Maker), Diamond Wow (Patrick Biancone), Misthaven (IRE) (Joe Sharp), Rigby (Maker), Turnerloose (Brad Cox).

FALL STARS WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

All year

Official Keeneland Tours. A variety of guided walking tours showcase Keeneland’s Thoroughbred racing and sales operations. Click here for more information.

Every race day (Oct. 8-30)

The new Keeneland Turf Pick 3 wager will be offered on the final three turf races each race day. The minimum wager is $3 and will follow the same rules as the traditional Pick 3. The new wager has a 15 percent takeout, the same low takeout as Keeneland’s popular Pick 5 wager.

Keeneland Select Handicapping Challenge. Sport of Kings, the free horse racing contest website, has this new free online handicapping contest for casual fans and serious horseplayers. The contest requires participants to make mythical selections on two Keeneland races for each day of the meet. Two seats to the 2022 NTRA National Horseplayers Championship will be awarded. To sign up, click here.

Every Friday and Saturday of Fall Meet

The Hill. At this popular tailgating area, fans can watch and wager while enjoying the racing action from the Jumbotron and wagering tent, while food trucks and live music presented by The Burl create a festive atmosphere. No ticket or reservation is required for The Hill.

Friday, Oct. 8

$200,000 Guaranteed Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG.

Friday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 10

The Keeneland Shop Presents “Meet the Maker” at Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore Millinery.

Every Saturday of Fall Meet

Sunrise Trackside. This free Saturday morning program is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Children’s activities from 8-10 a.m. include a meet and greet with Keeneland mascot Buckles, along with face painting, games and more. Fans can purchase coffee and donuts while watching horses train. The Keeneland Track Kitchen at the east end of the stable area (with no track view) is open for breakfast that includes “grab and go” and seating options. A 30-minute Paddock demonstration by the Secretariat Center, a premier reschooling facility that showcases adoptable Thoroughbreds and is located at the Kentucky Horse Park, begins at 10 a.m. Mini tours of Keeneland will be available at the Welcome Stand in the Paddock.

Saturday, Oct. 9

Jockey Autograph Signing. Fans will meet active and retired Keeneland riders and Hall of Famers in an event that benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Signing takes place near the Paddock from 11 a.m. to noon. Former jockeys scheduled to appear: Donna Barton-Brothers, Jamie Bruin, Don Brumfield, Mike Bryan, Jean Cruguet, Pat Day, Carl Faulconer, Sandy Hawley, Mike Manganello, Chris McCarron, John Oldham, Shane Sellers, Alex Solis, Mickey Solomone, Kaoru Tsuchiya-Hawley and Charlie Woods. These items may be purchased with all proceeds benefiting PDJF: hats ($30), Keeneland posters ($20), jockey goggles ($15) and autograph books ($10). Fans also may bring their own items to be signed ($5 per item; maximum of two items).

$300,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Saturday Pick 5 and $400,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Saturday Pick 4.

Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Pick 6, featuring races from Belmont Park and Keeneland.