Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, April 13

By Amy Owens —-

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 28. First post is 1 p.m. ET.

*************************

EVENLY MATCHED FIELD OF SEVEN ENTERED FOR SUNDAY’S BEAUMONT PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT
GRADE 2 WINNER DAMON’S MOUND MAKES TURF DEBUT IN PALISADES
AMY C (GB) TAKES DETOUR FROM CALIFORNIA FOR SATURDAY’S GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
SUNDAY’S PALISADES OFFERS BUSHIDO CHANCE FOR KEENELAND START
GALLOPING OUT
SATURDAY’S CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5 INCLUDES GRADED STAKES
FROM KEENELAND
PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES
SPRING MEET LEADERS
SPRING MEET WEEK 2 SPECIAL EVENTS

*************************

EVENLY MATCHED FIELD OF SEVEN ENTERED FOR SUNDAY’S BEAUMONT PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

An evenly matched field of seven 3-year-old fillies was entered Thursday for Sunday’s 38th running of the $400,000 Beaumont (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select to be run over the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet.

The Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select will go as the eighth race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time. First post Sunday is 1 p.m.

Five of the seven are stakes winners with three of them coming off wins.

Flurry Racing Stables and Hoffman Family Racing’s Key of Life won the Purple Martin (L) at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25 going 6 furlongs. Her trainer, Brad Cox, won the Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select last year with Matareya.

Key of Life is undefeated in two Keeneland starts at 6 furlongs with the latter victory coming in the Myrtlewood Stakes last fall. Flavien Prat has the mount and will break from post seven.

Barry Schwartz’s Stonewall Star enters the Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select off an 11-length victory in the Wide Country Stakes at Laurel on Feb. 18 going 7 furlongs. A two-time stakes winner against New York-breds, Stonewall Star is trained by Horacio De Paz and will be ridden by Luis Saez from post three.

Klaravich Stables’ Interpolate comes into Sunday’s race off a 2½-length victory in the Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 5. Trained by Chad Brown, who won the 2014 Beaumont with Ready to Act, Interpolate will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post four.

Other stakes winners in the field are Lucky Seven Stable’s Fun and Feisty and Mark Grier’s Opus Forty Two.

Fun and Feisty won the Pocahontas (G3) going 1 1/16 miles last fall at Churchill Downs for trainer Kenny McPeek, a two-time Beaumont winner. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post five.

Arnaud Delacour trains Opus Forty Two, who won the 7-furlong Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs before finishing fourth in the Suncoast (L). Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post six.

The field for the Beaumont, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Shoplifter (Corey Lanerie, 118 pounds), She’s On the Rocks (John McKee, 118), Stonewall Star (Saez, 118), Interpolate (Ortiz Jr., 118), Fun and Feisty (Hernandez Jr., 118), Opus Forty Two (Gaffalione, 118), Key of Life (Prat, 118).

GRADE 2 WINNER DAMON’S MOUND MAKES TURF DEBUT IN PALISADES

Michele and Cliff Love’s Damon’s Mound, winner of the Saratoga Special (G2) last summer, will make his grass debut Sunday when he headlines a field of 12 3-year-olds and one also-eligible for the 17th running of the $250,000 Palisades (L) going 5½ furlongs.

The Palisades will go as the seventh race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a 4:12 p.m. ET post time. First post Sunday is 1 p.m.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, Damon’s Mound won at first asking by 12½ lengths at Churchill Downs last June prior to winning at Saratoga. Sunday will mark the first start for Damon’s Mound since finishing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill on Sept. 17.

Gabriel Saez has the mount and will break from post position 12.

While Damon’s Mound is an unknown quantity on the grass, Mike McCarty’s Private Creed is not.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Private Creed has compiled a 6-3-1-2 record on the grass that includes victories in the Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select here and the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint (L) at Kentucky Downs and a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Joel Rosario, who was aboard in those three races, has the call Sunday and will break from post six.

Invading from Florida is AMO Racing USA’s Crispy Cat (GB). Twice group-placed in Europe last year, Crispy Cat won the Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 25 in his most recent outing for trainer Jorge Delgado. Paco Lopez has the mount from post four.

The field for the Palisades, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Two of a Kind (Julien Leparoux, 118 pounds), Chiringo (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118), Fadethenoise (Frankie Dettori, 118), Crispy Cat (GB) (Lopez, 123), Gaslight Dancer (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Private Creed (Rosario, 123), Bushido (Luis Saez, 123), No Nay Hudson (IRE) (John Velazquez, 118), Storm Daddy (Malcolm Franklin, 118), Golden Nugget (Flavien Prat, 118), New York Thunder (Jose Morelos, 118), Damon’s Mound (Gabriel Saez, 118). Also-Eligible: Olazabal (Florent Geroux, 118).

AMY C (GB) TAKES DETOUR FROM CALIFORNIA
FOR SATURDAY’S GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

Trainer Phil D’Amato had Amy C (GB) all ready to run last Saturday at Santa Anita in the Monrovia (L) but …

“It got rained off the grass,” D’Amato said. “We had been pointing for that race.”

So D’Amato put Amy C on a plane Wednesday morning and shipped her to Keeneland for Saturday’s 26th running of the $250,000 Giant’s Causeway (L) for fillies and mares going 5½ furlongs on the grass. The Giant’s Causeway drew a field of 12 plus three also-eligibles.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta, Amy C will be making her first start since winning the Las Cienegas (G3) at Santa Anita on Jan. 2. Amy C is undefeated going 6½ furlongs down the hillside course at Santa Anita.

“She runs well fresh and she has been training well,” said D’Amato, who won Wednesday’s fourth race with Sharon and Rick Waller’s Heartbreaker. “I am sure it will be a full field of tough sprinters.”

D’Amato could have another stakes starter here next week as H and E Ranch’s Desert Dawn is nominated to the 28th running of the $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track April 21.

“We also are looking at a couple of stakes the end of the month at Santa Anita and a couple Derby Week at Churchill Downs,” D’Amato said of Desert Dawn, who finished third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last spring.

SUNDAY’S PALISADES OFFERS BUSHIDO CHANCE FOR KEENELAND START

Last fall, trainer Darwin Banach had Bushido ready to run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland, but the undefeated son of First Samurai never reached the starting gate.

“He had worked at Woodbine and we knew he might not get in (off the Breeders’ Cup preference list for the race),” Banach said. “There was another race at Aqueduct we were looking at, and we had to commit. The owners (Bushido Syndicate) wanted to give the Breeders’ Cup a shot.”

Instead of giving Banach his first Breeders’ Cup starter, Bushido received the winter off at breeder Suzi Shoemaker’s Lantern Hill Farm near Lexington before rejoining Banach in Ocala, Florida, a couple months ago.

“Hopefully, he’ll make the transition from 2 to 3 and everything will be for the good,” Banach said of Bushido, who is entered in Sunday’s 17th running of the $250,000 Palisades (L) going 5½ furlongs on the turf.

Bushido never has been headed in his two starts, both 5-furlong turf sprints at Woodbine with the latter coming in the Ontario Racing Stakes (L). Bushido worked a half-mile over the Keeneland turf course that was listed as good in :50.80 on April 8, the fourth-fastest of 13 at the distance that morning.

“Luis (Saez) worked him and said he was good to go,” Banach said.

GALLOPING OUT

AMO Racing USA’s Affirmative Lady, winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) Presented by FanDuel TV, in her most recent start, arrived at Keeneland early Thursday morning from her winter base at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida.

Alice Clapham, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, said Affirmative Lady would have two works leading up to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at a locale to be determined. …

Trainer Brendan Walsh said “all options are on the table” for the Heider Family Stables’ Flirting Bridge (IRE) following the 5-year-old mare’s stylish victory here Wednesday afternoon in her 2023 debut. “Just wanted to get that first one out of the way.”

Group stakes-placed as a 3-year-old in Ireland, Flirting Bridge had two seconds and a third in graded stakes company last year in North America. She closed her 2022 season with a runner-up finish in the E. P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine.

SATURDAY’S CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5 INCLUDES GRADED STAKES
FROM KEENELAND

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 includes Keeneland’s Stonestreet Lexington (G3) and Jenny Wiley (G1). The minimum wager is 50 cents.

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 features these races:

Leg A: Aqueduct, Race 7 – maiden special weight at 4:34 p.m.

Leg B: Keeneland, Race 9 – Stonestreet Lexington (G3) at 5:16 p.m.

Leg C: Aqueduct, Race 9 – maiden special weight at 5:38 p.m.

Leg D: Keeneland, Race 10 – Jenny Wiley (G1) at 5:48 p.m.

Leg E: Oaklawn Park, Race 9 – Count Fleet Sprint (G3) at 5:58 p.m.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

Here are the prospective entries for upcoming stakes compiled by Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare.

Friday, April 21 race. Entries taken Sunday

$300,000 BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE (G3) – Hidden Connection (Bret Calhoun), Interstatedaydream (Brad Cox), Shotgun Hottie (Cherie DeVaux), Trobairitz (Neil Pessin). Possible: Desert Dawn (Phil D’Amato), She Can’t Sing (Chris Block).

Saturday, April 22 races. Entries taken Wednesday, April 19

$350,000 ELKHORN (G2) – Scarlet Fusion (Joe Sharp). Possible: Alex Joon (Lindsay Schultz), Another Mystery (Block), Camp Hope (Kenny McPeek), English Conqueror (Darwin Banach), Tiz the Bomb (McPeek).

$300,000 BEN ALI (G3) – Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Trademark (Vicki Oliver). Possible: Happy American (Pessin), Rich Strike (Eric Reed), Zozos (Brad Cox).

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.

Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16

The Hill. Keeneland’s official tailgating area now is open Sundays during the Spring Meet. No ticket or reservation is required for The Hill, 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.

Friday, April 14

College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End. Keeneland invites college students to enjoy a day of racing, prizes, scholarship giveaways, behind-the-scenes racing experiences, reserved seating and more. By pre-registering, students will receive a free general admission ticket good for April 14 and have the opportunity to win one of ten $2,000 scholarships provided by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland. Students who attend the race day and have their tickets scanned day-of also will be eligible to win two additional $10,000 scholarships provided by Lane’s End Farm, as well as prize packages from local Kentucky businesses. Pre-register www.Keeneland.com/csd.

Spring Handicapping Challenge. Available only at the track, the Spring Handicapping Challenge offers one berth to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) in November at Santa Anita Park and as many as four spots to the 2024 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas. Players will wager a live bankroll of $250 on Keeneland races. Click here to register and for more information.

Saturday, April 15

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.

Grade 1 Gamble. The signature handicapping contest of the Spring Meet is the Grade 1 Gamble, which Keeneland is hosting in cooperation with XpressBet, NYRABets, 4NJ Bets, HPI and TVG on the day of the Jenny Wiley (G1), Stonestreet Lexington (G3) and Giant’s Causeway (L). Entry fee is $3,500 with $2,500 going to a live bankroll and $1,000 to the prize fund. Contestants may play at Keeneland or on one of the aforementioned ADW platforms. Prizes include an estimated $75,000 for first place (based on 300 entries), as many as six berths in the BCBC and 10 spots in the NHC. Click here to register and for more information.

Sunday, April 16

Military Day at the Races Presented by UPS. This event recognizes the men and women who serve our country. All active duty, reserve, veterans and military families receive free general admission and reserved Grandstand seating with a military ID. Military guests and their families can enjoy complimentary food from the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott and Coca-Cola in the Military Family Zone in the North Terrace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

*************************