Keeneland Barn Notes –

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

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

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

CHEZ PIERRE (FR) DELIVERS “WOW MOMENT” IN MAKER’S MARK MILE
WARD FILLIES COULD GO SEPARATE WAYS FOLLOWING 1-2 FANDUEL LIMESTONE FINISH
WORK TAB
PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES
SPRING MEET LEADERS
SPRING MEET WEEK 2 SPECIAL EVENTS

CHEZ PIERRE (FR) DELIVERS “WOW MOMENT” IN MAKER’S MARK MILE

In what was expected to be a showcase for Godolphin’s champion Modern Games (IRE) in Friday’s $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1), the scene stealer turned out to be Lael Stables’ Chez Pierre (FR).

When Chez Pierre left his seven rivals in his wake in the upper stretch en route to a 3½-length score, the performance was something trainer Arnaud Delacour had seen before.

“He’s got a great turn of foot, and he did the same thing last year in the Henry Clark (L) at Laurel,” Delacour said of Chez Pierre’s 5½-length victory in that race. “Those were legitimate Grade 2 and Grade 3 horses, and he put them away in the blink of an eye. That was a wow moment.”

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Chez Pierre won the Maker’s Mark Mile in a stakes-record 1:33.46.

Chez Pierre is ticketed to return to Delacour’s base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. A return to Kentucky in a few weeks for Churchill Downs’ $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on May 6 is unlikely.

“Probably not. I wouldn’t want to stretch him out and come back that quick,” Delacour said.

The victory by Chez Pierre was the sixth stakes win at Keeneland for Delacour and his first Grade 1. On Sunday, he will attempt to double up when he sends out Mark Grier’s Opus Forty Two in the 38th running of the $400,000 Beaumont (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select.

“It is an ambitious spot,” Delacour said. “If we get a piece of it, we’d be delighted. She is adding blinkers because she has seemed to be losing focus at the end of her races.”

Regarding the other top finishers in the Maker’s Mark Mile:

Modern Games is scheduled to return to England on Tuesday.

“He cooled out well and is a happy horse this morning,” head traveling lad Chris Connett said of the Charlie Appleby trainee. “He didn’t disgrace himself. The winner ran a huge race. Modern Games ran hard, and it is a good starting point for the rest of his 4-year-old campaign.”

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s third-place finisher Up to the Mark, who was a neck behind Modern Games in his graded stakes debut, will head to Churchill on Sunday. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the Turf Classic is “under consideration” for Up to the Mark.

Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit, who finished fourth as the longest price in the field at 52-1, will head back to Santa Anita today and target the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) on May 29, according to trainer George Papaprodromou.

WARD FILLIES COULD GO SEPARATE WAYS FOLLOWING 1-2
FANDUEL LIMESTONE FINISH

Trainer Wesley Ward indicated Saturday morning that his 1-2 finishers in Friday’s FanDuel Limestone (L) might be headed in different directions.

The winner, Stonestreet Stables’ Love Reigns (IRE), could have a return trip to Royal Ascot in England, where she ran fourth in last year’s Queen Mary (G2). The target this year would be the King’s Stand (G1) on June 20.

The runner-up, AMO Racing’s Lady Hollywood (GB), will target the $225,000 Mamzelle (L) to be run May 3 over 5½ furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Ward said both fillies were doing well Saturday morning after making their 2023 debuts in the FanDuel Limestone. They had not run since finishing off the board against males in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) here in November.

Another runner from that Breeders’ Cup race who made her 2023 debut in the FanDuel Limestone was KatieRich Stables’ American Apple, who finished fourth.

“She got caught a little wide yesterday, but I thought it was a good race off the layoff,” trainer Daniel Leitch said. “She will probably go to the Mamzelle; I’m going to nominate her today.”

WORK TAB

Several nominees to next Saturday’s $350,000 Elkhorn (G2) worked over a firm turf course Saturday morning.

Going 5 furlongs were trainer Jorge Abreu’s duo of Shawdyshawdyshawdy and Howe Street in 1:03.20; Scarlet Fusion (1:02.40) for trainer Joe Sharp; and English Conqueror (1:04.80) for trainer Darwin Banach. …

Working a half-mile for Brendan Walsh was Rising Empire (:50.20). Clocking the same time for Walsh was Temple City Terror, winner of last fall’s Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3). …

Main track workers of note included two possible entrants in Friday’s Baird Doubledogdare (G3): Moon Swag, who covered 5 furlongs in 1:01 for Walsh, and Hidden Connection, who worked a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Bret Calhoun. …

Godolphin’s Grade 1-winning millionaire Proxy worked a half-mile in :49 for a probable start in next Saturday’s $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for trainer Mike Stidham.

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), She Can’t Sing (Chris Block), Shotgun Hottie (Cherie DeVaux), Trobairitz (Neil Pessin). Possible: Desert Dawn (Phil D’Amato), Moon Swag (Brendan Walsh).

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

$350,000 ELKHORN (G2) – Another Mystery (Block), Scarlet Fusion (Joe Sharp). Possible: Alex Joon (Lindsay Schultz), 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).

SPRING MEET WEEK 2 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 15 and Sunday, April 16

The Hill. Keeneland’s official tailgating area is open Fridays, Saturdays and 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.

Saturday, April 15

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). 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.

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