Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, Oct. 17

By Amy Owens —-

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet runs through Saturday, Oct. 26.
First post is 1 p.m. ET. No racing Mondays and Tuesdays.

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FRESHENED EMERY READY FOR SATURDAY’S LEXUS RAVEN RUN CHALLENGE
ETERNAL HOPE (IRE) LOOKS TO STEP UP IN SUNDAY’S ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER
MULLIKIN CONTINUES WORK TOWARD BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT
TENACIOUS LEADER, TOTALLY JUSTIFIED BREEZE FOR BREEDERS’ CUP
PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES
FALL MEET THIRD WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS
FALL MEET LEADERS

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FRESHENED EMERY READY FOR SATURDAY’S
LEXUS RAVEN RUN CHALLENGE

Stonestreet Stables’ Emery will make her return to the races Saturday in the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs.

Perfect at Keeneland in her lone race here, Emery has been away from the races since her second in the Aug. 3 Test (G1) at Saratoga.

“We gave her time off after that big effort in the Test against Ways and Means,” said Blake Cox, assistant to his father, trainer Brad Cox. “She’s now Grade 1-placed and doing well.”

Ways and Means has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Emery has won four of six races with Tyler Gaffalione, her Saturday pilot, aboard for all of those victories. Her past three starts came in a two-month span beginning June 9 at Churchill Downs.

“She ran those three races pretty close together, and we wanted to give her time to recover from the Test,” Cox said of Emery, who has had five works since Sept. 6 at Churchill with the most recent being a half-mile breeze in :49 last Saturday. “She’s doing well, and this a good group of fillies (she’s facing Saturday).”

ETERNAL HOPE (IRE) LOOKS TO STEP UP
IN SUNDAY’S ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER

Godolphin’s Eternal Hope (IRE), trained by Charlie Appleby, was a perfect 2-for-2 last year in North America with victories in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational (G3) and the Sands Point (G2) at the Belmont at the Big A meet.

This year, she is 0-for-2 and will make her next start in Sunday’s $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) at 1½ miles on the turf.

“She hasn’t run that badly,” said assistant Chris Connett, who was at Saratoga this summer with the filly. “She’d had a long layoff (of 9½ months) and was facing top-class horses.”

Eternal Hope finished fourth in the Glens Falls (G2) on Aug. 1 and then was fourth again in the Flower Bowl (G2) on Aug. 31.

“Her first run, we expected her to move forward from and the second race didn’t set up well for her,” Connett said. “But when you are 2 lengths within (runner-up) War Like Goddess, that’s not bad form and puts her in good stead for a drop in class.”

Since arriving from Saratoga, Eternal Hope has had four half-mile turf works here beginning Oct. 5. Her most recent came Tuesday in :52.60. Frankie Dettori has the mount Sunday.

MULLIKIN CONTINUES WORK TOWARD BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Mullikin worked 5 furlongs in company in 1:00.80 over a fast track Thursday morning as he continued his preparation for an expected start in the 6-furlong Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Under Pedro Alvarez, Mullikin led workmate Tour Player through fractions of :23.80, :35.80 and :47.80 after the second track maintenance period of the morning.

“We just wanted a nice, easy five-eighths this morning,” trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. “His big work (for the Breeders’ Cup) was last week when he went in 59 and 3 and out in 1:11 and 2.”

Mullikin is undefeated in four starts this year highlighted by victories in the John A. Nerud (G2) and the Forego (G1), both at 7 furlongs.

“He’ll come back with one more work here next Thursday or Friday depending on weather,” Brisset said. “He has been on a Thursday schedule that in case of rain we adjust.”

TENACIOUS LEADER, TOTALLY JUSTIFIED BREEZE FOR BREEDERS’ CUP

Other possible candidates for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to work Thursday morning were Tenacious Leader and Totally Justified.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable, the 2-year-old Tenacious Leader worked a half-mile in :47.80 in company with the 3-year-old stakes winner Tuscan Sky. A candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, Tenacious Leader galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:01 and 6 furlongs in 1:13.80.

Also working was Bregman Family Racing’s Totally Justified for trainer Rusty Arnold. Runner-up in the Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales on Oct. 4 and a candidate for the Nov. 1 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Totally Justified worked a half-mile in :48.60 in company with the 3-year-old Lightbulb Moment.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

$350,000 BANK OF AMERICA VALLEY VIEW (G2) (Entries taken Friday; race Friday, Oct. 25) – Boomin’ Belle (trainer Mike Maker), Buttercream Babe (Maker), Egyptian Candy (Daniel Leitch), Kalispera (IRE) (Brian Lynch), Maxisuperfly (Eric Foster), Memorialize (Graham Motion), Neom Beach (Steve Asmussen), Nice as Pie (Kelsey Danner), Opera Mundi (IRE) Brendan Walsh, Pharoah’s Wine (Dale Romans), Poolside With Slim (IRE) (Rusty Arnold), Proctor Street (Walsh), Simply in Front (Eddie Kenneally), Strike When Ready (Ignacio Correas IV), Way to Be Marie (Rob Atras), Whiskey Decision (Arnaud Delacour).

$200,000 MYRTLEWOOD (Entries taken Friday; race Friday, Oct. 25) – Andrea (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Atomic City (Kenneally), Echo Sound (Arnold), Glee (Asmussen), Long Neck Paula (Wesley Ward), Mischievous Bria (Doug Anderson), Praying (Robbie Medina), Trust Fund Philly (Peter Eurton), White Sands (Ward).

$350,000 HAGYARD FAYETTE (G2) (Entries taken Saturday, Oct. 19, race Saturday, Oct. 26) – Grand Aspen (Jonathan Thomas), Heroic Move (Robertino Diodoro), Hit Show (Brad Cox), Howling Time (Niccolo Troiani), Trademark (Vicki Oliver), War Campaign (Phil Sims). Possible: King Kumbalay (Ignacio Correas IV), Tumbarumba (Brian Lynch).

$600,000 BRYAN STATION (G3) (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 26) – Brilliant Berti (Cherie DeVaux), Demolisher (Cipriano Contreras), Depiction (Cherie DeVaux), Evade (FR) (Maker), Herchee (Helen Pitts-Blasi), Illuminaire (Todd Pletcher), Lagynos (Asmussen), Mansa Musa (IRE) (Bill Mott), My Boy Prince (Mark Casse), Neat (Rob Atras), Reminder (Jose Francisco D’Angelo), Silent Heart (Lynch), Trikari (Motion).

$200,000 BOWMAN MILL (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 26) – Long Neck Paula (Ward), Macho Music (Rohan Crichton), Mitty’s Griddy (Brad Cox), Politicallycorrect (Chris Davis), Tough Catch (Dallas Stewart), White Sands (Ward). Possible: McDude (John Ortiz).

FALL MEET THIRD WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS

Throughout the Fall Meet, special events and activities will continue Keeneland’s historic mission to support the Central Kentucky community and the Thoroughbred industry. They include:

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours: Click here for description, availability and to purchase tickets.

Friday, Oct. 18

Friday, Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting)

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for tailgating on The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o’ War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland). Fans can watch the racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered.

The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the final race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For fans who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland again is partnering with RevelXP to offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. RevelXP will organize tailgates by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more. Click here for more details.

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 Oct. 18 and must be at the track for the opportunity to win one of 10 $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. Activities with Amplify Horse Racing, Drake’s, Rivertown Photo Booths, LexLive and others will take place at the North Terrace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Keeneland Shop will offer a 15% discount to registrants. Pre-register at www.Keeneland.com/csd.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Sunrise Trackside. No ticket is required to attend this free Saturday morning program from 8-10 a.m., which is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Fans can enjoy a light breakfast for purchase at the Starting Gate concession stand while watching racehorses train. Children’s activities on the first floor Grandstand will include a visit with Keeneland mascot Buckles, face painting and games. Mini tours will be available at the Tours podium near the Paddock. From 8:30 to 9 a.m., fans can pet a horse in the Walking Ring, and the John Deere Tractor Break will take place during the renovation period on the main track with a drawing for prizes from John Deere/Meade Tractor.

On Oct. 26, a special Halloween edition of Sunrise Trackside with a costume contest and an appearance by the Headless Horseman will take place.

Sunday, Oct. 20

Heroes Day. Keeneland will honor members of the military (active duty and veterans), first responders, health care workers and their families. Heroes and their families will receive free general admission, reserved Grandstand seating, a complimentary meal at the North Terrace provided by City Barbeque (for the first 2,000 people) and a 30% discount at The Keeneland Shop. Special programming will include a flag rollout on the track and honoree recognitions in the Winner’s Circle.

A POW-MIA Chair of Honor will be displayed on the Paddock Apron to bring awareness to past and current POW-MIA military members through a partnership with The Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5.

Each hero is eligible to receive up to four complimentary tickets. Click here for more information and to reserve complimentary tickets.

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