Keeneland Barn Notes — Friday, April 7

By Amy Owens —

FRIDAY, APRIL 7 – OPENING DAY

Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 28.

First post is at 1 p.m. ET except Saturday, when the first race is at 12:30 p.m.

Keeneland is closed for racing Easter Sunday, April 9 as well as Mondays and Tuesdays.

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TAPIT TRICE TO FULFILL OWNER’S DREAM IN TOYOTA BLUE GRASS
SABALENKA LOOKS TO MAKE NAME FOR HERSELF IN APPALACHIAN PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION
PLEASANT PASSAGE RETURNS TO KEENELAND FOLLOWING STRONG BREEDERS’ CUP RUN
WORK TAB
PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR APRIL 14-16 STAKES
SPRING MEET OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS
ATTENTION MEDIA: KEENELAND’S PHOTOSHELTER PROVIDES SPRING MEET DIGITAL ASSETS FOR EDITORIAL USE

TAPIT TRICE TO FULFILL OWNER’S DREAM IN TOYOTA BLUE GRASS

Mandy Pope’s journey with Tapit Trice returns to its beginning in Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1). Under her Whisper Hill Farm banner, Pope purchased the son of Tapit for $1.3 million at Keeneland’s 2021 September Yearling Sale from the consignment of breeder Antony Beck’s Gainesway, which subsequently bought back in as a partner. (Click here for a video of Tapit Trace in the sales ring at the September Sale.)

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice has won his past three races, including the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3), and is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the Toyota Blue Grass. The colt, who will be ridden by Luis Saez, will be Pope’s first starter in Keeneland’s signature race.

“One of Mandy’s goals has always been to run in the Blue Grass,” Whisper Hill Farm Manager Todd Quast said. “So it is a very big deal to come full circle and have a horse with one of our steady partners that we purchased at Keeneland.”

Tapit Trice is out of the stakes-winning Dunkirk mare Danzatrice, a half-sister to champion Jaywalk. At the September Sale, Quast and Pope budgeted $1 million for the colt but went to $1.3 million to secure him. Tapit Trice sold for the sixth highest price of the auction.

“I always try to set a realistic price, but Mandy has been known to push the envelope when she really likes a horse,” Quast said. “I knew who we were (bidding) against, and I knew we had to stay strong.”

With his flashy good looks, impeccable physical presence and glitzy pedigree page, Tapit Trice was a natural choice for high-end buyers. Pope, who is especially fond of Tapit’s offspring, gray horses and Gainesway, also was charmed by the colt’s demeanor.

“He was very kind at the sale,” Quast said. “Very relaxed every time we went to the (sales) barn to look at him. We had been outbid on several horses earlier in the sale, so she was pretty determined to get this one. (Gainesway General Manager) Brian Graves is a very good judge of horses, and he always felt that Tapit Trice was one of their best yearlings that year. For them to buy back into him gave us a lot of confidence and makes it more fun.”

In Tapit Trice’s early training at Whisper Hill on the fringe of Ocala’s horse country, Quast said the colt displayed a boldness when working with other horses that indicated that he could fulfill his potential. He debuted with a third-place effort at Aqueduct last November then won at Aqueduct in December.

“Mandy is not one to race 2-year-olds early, so that is why he did not start until November,” Quast said. “He seemed like he would relish longer distances so there was no reason to run him early in sprints.”

Tapit Trice opened his 3-year-old campaign by capturing a Gulfstream Park allowance race in February. He won the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 11 by 2 lengths over Toyota Blue Grass entrant Classic Car Wash.

SABALENKA LOOKS TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF
IN APPALACHIAN PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION

Aryna Sabalenka made a name for herself over the winter by winning her first tennis major, the Australian Open.

On Saturday, her equine namesake owned by DiRico Racing and Breeding will try to grab some headlines for herself in the 35th running of the $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association going a mile on the turf.

Trained by Whit Beckman, Sabalenka will be making her 2023 debut after closing her 2-year-old campaign with a turf victory at Churchill Downs. Prior to that, Sabalenka ran fourth in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) here.

“She’s getting on the van to come to Keeneland this afternoon,” Beckman said of Sabalenka, who shipped to Louisville’s Trackside Training Center Sunday after spending the winter at Tampa Bay Downs. “It is good to be back in Louisville.”

Sabalenka completed her preparation for the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association by working a half-mile in :50 last Saturday at Tampa.

Ricardo Santana Jr., who was aboard for the allowance victory at Churchill, has the call Saturday in the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association.

“Her numbers as a 2-year-old were right along with the pack, and we hope she continues to develop going from 2 or 3,” Beckman said. “The goal is to run longer (distances) in the summer and fall, and this is a good starting point.”

PLEASANT PASSAGE RETURNS TO KEENELAND
FOLLOWING STRONG BREEDERS’ CUP RUN

Lost in the European dominance on turf here last fall at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was the performance by Emory Hamilton’s homebred Pleasant Passage.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Pleasant Passage was a fast-closing second to Meditate (IRE) in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

She will make her return to the races Saturday in the 35th running of the $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association going a mile on the turf.

“We gave her time off after the Breeders’ Cup, and she went to the farm for a bit,” said Anthony Hamilton, assistant to McGaughey. “Since she came back, she’s been doing super and the decision was made to run here.”

The third dam of Pleasant Passage is Hamilton’s 1987 Ashland (G1) winner, Chic Shirine. For Hamilton, McGaughey also trained Peaceful Passage, dam of Pleasant Passage, and the filly’s second dam, Flying Passage.

Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Pleasant Passage in her debut victory last August at Saratoga, has the mount Saturday.

The race after the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association, McGaughey will shoot for a stakes double when he sends out Rodney Lundock’s Maryquitecontrary in the 22nd running of the $600,000 Madison (G1) going 7 furlongs on the main track.

A winner of five consecutive races, Maryquitecontrary will be making her Grade 1 debut and will be ridden by Luca Panici.

WORK TAB

Godolphin’s Pretty Mischievous, winner of the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and third on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) points list, worked a half-mile on the fast main track in :48 for trainer Brendan Walsh. …

KatieRich Stables’ American Apple worked a half-mile in :50.40 for next Friday’s FanDuel Limestone (L) for trainer Daniel Leitch.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR APRIL 14-16 STAKES

A total of seven stakes worth a combined $2.75 million will be run during the second weekend of Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet. Here are the prospective entries for the races compiled by Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare.

Friday, April 14 races. Entries taken Tuesday, April 11.

$600,000 MAKER’S MARK MILE (G1) – Dr Zempf (GB) (trainer Chad Brown), In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo), Modern Games (IRE) (Charlie Appleby). Possible: Chez Pierre (FR) (Arnaud Delacour).

$250,000 FANDUEL LIMESTONE (L) – Alluring Angel (GB) (Jorge Abreu), American Apple (Daniel Leitch), Love Reigns (IRE) (Wesley Ward). Possible: Danse Macabre (Kelsey Danner).

Saturday, April 15 races. Entries taken Wednesday, April 12.

$600,000 JENNY WILEY (G1) – Didia (ARG) (Ignacio Correas IV), In Italian (GB) (Brown), With The Moonlight (IRE) (Appleby). Possible: New Year’s Eve (Brendan Walsh).

$400,000 STONESTREET LEXINGTON (G3) – Possible: Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux), Curly Larry and Mo (Caio Caramori), First Mission (Brad Cox), Victory Formation (Cox).

$250,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (L) – Oeuvre (Chris Block), Opening Buzz (Jonathan Wong), Star Devine (IRE) (Abreu). Possible: Goin’ Good (Cox).

Sunday, April 16 races. Entries taken Thursday, April 13.

$400,000 BEAUMONT (G2) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT – Possible: Opus Forty Two (Delacour), Red Carpet Ready (Rusty Arnold), She’s On the Rocks (Cirilo Gorostieta).

$250,000 PALISADES (L) – Bushido (Darwin Banach), Damon’s Mound (Michelle Lovell). Possible: Olazabal (Eric Foster).

SPRING MEET OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

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

Through August

Located on Keeneland’s campus, Keeneland Library features the free exhibit The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers through August. The Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reach the Library, enter Keeneland at Gate 1 (Man o’ War Blvd.) on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.

Saturday, April 8

Sunrise Trackside. This free Saturday morning program is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Children’s activities, located on the first floor of the Grandstand from 8-10 a.m., include a visit with Keeneland’s mascot, Buckles, along with face painting, games and more. Fans can enjoy coffee and donuts at the Starting Gate concession stand while watching horses train. Mini tours will be available at the Welcome Stand in the Paddock. A meet and greet with a horse will take place in the Walking Ring from 8:30-9 a.m.

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for Keeneland’s official tailgating area, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 4. Amenities, available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., include a jumbo TV, wagering, live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and complimentary shuttles to the track. Keeneland partner RevelXP will offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. Visit Keeneland.com/tailgating. The Hill is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the Spring Meet.

Easter Sunday, April 9

Keeneland is closed for racing.