Keeneland Barn Notes — Friday, April 8

By Amy Owens —-

FRIDAY, APRIL 8 – OPENING DAY

Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 29.
First post is at 1 p.m. ET except April 9 and April 29 when the first post is 12:30 p.m.

Keeneland is closed for racing Mondays, Tuesdays and Easter Sunday, April 17.

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· AWAKE AT MIDNYTE HOPES TO PUNCH KENTUCKY OAKS TICKET IN TODAY’S CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND

AWAKE AT MIDNYTE HOPES TO PUNCH KENTUCKY OAKS TICKET
IN TODAY’S CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND

Trainer Doug O’Neill is hoping that a quick trip to Lexington will pay huge dividends this afternoon when he saddles Reddam Racing’s Awake At Midnyte in the 85th running of the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).

“She’s a talented filly,” O’Neill said Friday morning of the daughter of Nyquist, who was third in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds in her most recent start on Feb. 19.

Awake At Midnyte has earned 14 points toward the $1.25 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and can pad that total in the Central Bank Ashland, which has 170 points up for grabs on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first- through fourth-place finishers. The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.

O’Neill opted to ship Awake At Midnyte to Keeneland instead of staying home for Saturday’s Santa Anita Oaks (G2).

“We made the decision to ship because this race is a Grade 1 and the Santa Anita race is a Grade 2, and it made sense to jump on a plane and ship,” O’Neill said. “Should she run well, she would stay in Kentucky (for the Oaks) and not ship back.”

Immediately after the race, O’Neill will catch a flight back to California, where he will send out Happy Jack and Win the Day in tomorrow’s Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) in hopes of earning a Kentucky Derby spot or two.

O’Neill and Reddam Racing already have one Derby-bound runner in Sunland Park Derby (G3) winner Slow Down Andy, who has accumulated 60 points toward the Kentucky Derby and ranks eighth on the leaderboard. He is stabled at Keeneland.

MOTION DOUBLES UP IN BID FOR THIRD WIN IN APPALACHIAN
PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION

Graham Motion is no stranger to the Keeneland winner’s circle with 34 stakes victories on his local resume, a total that includes two wins in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.

On Saturday afternoon, Motion will send out Gainesway Stable’s undefeated Spendarella and Michael Dubb and Madaket Stables’ Ouraika (FR) in the 34th running of the $400,000 race contested over a mile on the turf.

“This was certainly the logical spot for Spendarella,” Motion said of the front-running winner of the Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream Park on March 5 in her most recent start. “I didn’t see great alternatives for Ouraika. I feel like she is doing well and should get the mile.”

Ouraika won the Sweet Life (G3) going 6½ furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 12 in her most recent start.

With rain in the forecast the next two days, Motion’s fillies might encounter less than firm conditions for the first time.

“Obviously, turf conditions are a question and concern for everyone,” Motion said.

BARRAZA GETS BREEDERS’ CUP AUDITION IN SHAKERTOWN

Vladimir Cerin has been a mainstay on the Southern California circuit for 40 years, but on rare occasions he has ventured east to Keeneland.

“I’ve run here twice; ran one a few years ago,” Cerin said Friday morning, referring to Mongolian Humor, who ran second in an allowance race during the 2019 Fall Meet.

What brings him to Keeneland this time is a 4-year-old turf sprinter named Barraza, who goes postward in Saturday afternoon’s 26th running of the $350,000 Shakertown (G2) going 5½ furlongs.

Owned by longtime clients Holly and David Wilson, Barraza has won his past four starts since Cerin cut him back to sprint distances with the most recent victory coming by 2¾ lengths in the San Simeon (G3) at Santa Anita on Feb. 20.

“This is a chance to see if he is good enough and this is where the Breeders’ Cup will be this fall,” Cerin said. “We get to test him against the best grass sprinters in the country.”

Cerin claimed Barraza for $100,000 after his fourth start and immediately put him on the turf and has kept him there.

“He’s an Into Mischief, and they can run on anything,” Cerin said. “His dam (Halo Dolly, was a two-time graded stakes winner) on the grass, so we figured it was worth a try.”

TRAINERS DISCUSS FRIDAY-SATURDAY STAKES RUNNERS

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach interviewed several trainers with horses competing Friday and Saturday during opening weekend of the Spring Meet:

Ben Colebrook on Club Car in Saturday’s Madison (G1).

Brad Cox on Interstatedaydream in today’s Central Bank Ashland (G1).

Neil Pessin on his two Saturday stakes entrants: Trobairitz in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association and Bell’s the One in the Madison.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR APRIL 15-16 STAKES

According to Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare, here are the prospective fields for the April 15 and 16 stakes:

April 15 races. Entries taken Sunday.

$600,000 MAKER’S MARK MILE (G1) – Atone (trainer Mike Maker), Beyond Brilliant (John Shirreffs), In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo), Ivar (BRZ) (Lobo), Masen (GB) (Chad Brown), Public Sector (Brown), Set Piece (GB) (Brad Cox), Somelikeithotbrown (Maker).

$200,000 TVG LIMESTONE (L) – Lost My Sock (Derek Ryan). Possible: Derrynane (Christophe Clement), Unbridled Mary (John Sadler).

April 16 races. Entries taken Wednesday.

$500,000 JENNY WILEY (G1) – Abscond (Eddie Kenneally), Navratilova (Rusty Arnold), Regal Glory (Chad Brown), Shantisara (IRE) (Brown), Waliyak (FR) (Edward Vaughan). Possible: Alms (Mike Stidham).

$400,000 STONESTREET LEXINGTON (G3) – Bye Bye Bobby (Todd Fincher), In Due Time (Kelly Breen), Major General (Todd Pletcher), Strava (Dallas Stewart). Possible: Call Me Midnight (Keith Desormeaux), Dash Attack (Kenny McPeek), The Skipper Too (John Ortiz).

$200,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (L) – A G Indy (Todd Pletcher), Ambassador Luna (Ben Colebrook), Caravel (Brad Cox), Campanelle (IRE) (Wesley Ward), Change of Control (Michelle Lovell), Elle Z (Chris Hartman), Headline Hunter (Jose D’Angelo), Hear My Prayer (Vladimir Cerin), Jouster (Pletcher), Social Chatter (Vicki Oliver).

SPRING MEET OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Visit keeneland.com/tours for availability and to purchase.

Saturday, April 9

Sunrise Trackside. This morning program is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Children’s activities, located on the first-floor Grandstand from 8-10 a.m., include a meet and greet with Keeneland’s mascot, Buckles, along with face painting, games and more. Fans can enjoy coffee and donuts at Clockers Corner while watching horses train. Mini tours are available at the Welcome Stand in the Paddock.

Jockey Autograph Signing (rescheduled to Friday, April 15).

NBC coverage of the Toyota Blue Grass. NBC will televise the Toyota Blue Grass along with the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino from Aqueduct and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) from 4:30-6 p.m. The Toyota Blue Grass is the ninth race with a 5:10 p.m. post.

Sunday, April 10

Keeneland Kids Club Family Day Presented by Kentucky Children’s Hospital. The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for Keeneland fans 12 and younger. Kids Club members and their families are invited to enjoy this special day at the races by receiving free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 4 p.m.