Keeneland Barn Notes — Tuesday, Oct. 24

Posted On 25 Oct 2017

By Amy Owens —-

TUESDAY, OCT. 24
Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet concludes Saturday. Racing resumes tomorrow.
Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 p.m. ET.
**********

· WUHEIDA (GB) HAS FINAL KEENELAND WORK BEFORE BREEDERS’ CUP
· TRAINERS TALK ABOUT HORSES IN CLOSING-DAY HAGYARD FAYETTE
· GALLOPING OUT
· JOCKEY DOYLE RETRAINING FAVORITE MOUNT FOR SECOND CAREER
· BREEDERS’ CUP CONTENDERS STABLED AT KEENELAND
· COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP DAY DRAWS BIG CROWD
· FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
· FALL MEET LEADERS

WUHEIDA (GB) HAS FINAL KEENELAND WORK BEFORE BREEDERS’ CUP

Godolphin Racing’s Breeders’ Cup hopeful Wuheida (GB) worked 5 furlongs under exercise rider Kirsty Milczarek in 1:04.80 over yielding Keeneland turf Tuesday in preparation for an anticipated start in the
$2 million Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 4.
Trained by Charles Appleby, Wuheida was targeting Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) on Oct. 14 but was scratched because of a bruised hoof. She most recently finished fourth in the Oct. 1 Prix de l’Opera (G1) at Chantilly in France.
“She has missed a bit of work so we wanted to get her back on the turf and have a stretch,” Tim Denniff, Wuheida’s traveling lad, said. “We weren’t doing anything too hard today. We are happy. We got exactly what we wanted today.”
Wuheida will depart for Del Mar Wednesday morning.
“I will speak to Charlie tonight and see what he wants (for training in California),” Denniff said. “She will have a couple of easy days after the flight, and then probably a couple pieces of work and a breeze.”
TRAINERS TALK ABOUT HORSES IN CLOSING-DAY HAGYARD FAYETTE

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach, the “Voice of the Wildcats” for University of Kentucky football and men’s basketball, interviewed these trainers about horses in Saturday’s $200,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) on closing day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet:
Buff Bradley on The Player.
Ian Wilkes on McCraken.
The other probable starters in the Hagyard Fayette are Eagle (trainer Neil Howard), Giuseppe the Great (Nick Zito), Honorable Duty (Brendan Walsh), Neolithic (Todd Pletcher) and Texas Chrome (Allen Milligan).
Entries for the race will be taken Wednesday.

GALLOPING OUT
Trainer Mac Robertson recorded his first Keeneland victory Sunday when he sent out Jer-Mar Stable’s Sir Navigator to win the last race. Ridden by Joe Rocco Jr., the 5-year-old Henrythenavigator gelding won the 7-furlong race by a head in 1:23.

JOCKEY DOYLE RETRAINING FAVORITE MOUNT FOR SECOND CAREER
Three years after scoring a milestone victory aboard Jaz N Tap, jockey Sophie Doyle is back on track with the 6-year-old-gelding.
The two first became acquainted when Doyle was establishing her riding career in Kentucky after being a successful jockey in her native England. On Nov. 26, 2014, at Churchill Downs, she rode Jaz N Tap to win her first race in North America. The victory served as a steppingstone for Doyle, who has won more than 140 races here.
In May, trainer Larry Demeritte told Doyle that Jaz N Tap had been retired after earning $108,844 in 39 starts for owner and breeders Mervin and Barbara McNamara. Doyle had ridden the son of Jazil to three of his four wins.
“I asked Larry if I could have him,” Doyle said. “I told him I had been waiting for him to retire.”
Doyle has started reschooling Jaz N Tap for a new career as a lead pony in which he will accompany other Thoroughbreds to and from the track for their morning workouts. The gelding, who had his initial retraining at Demeritte’s nearby farm, here at Keeneland has received more advanced schooling in proper lead pony etiquette, which includes standing still as other horses cruise around the track.
“He is still racehorsey,” Doyle said. “He does not know he is retired.”
One technique Doyle uses to refocus Jaz N Tap’s attention is riding him in circles, which teaches the gelding to wait for her next cue rather than following his former routine of sailing into a gallop shortly after arriving on track. These days galloping is rarely on his schedule.
“He needs to learn to relax so we spend a lot of time just trotting and walking,” Doyle said.
Jaz N Tap tends to be exuberant when his lessons begin but is more relaxed when he completes his sessions. On a recent morning, he was content to stand with other lead ponies as they and their riders observed the other Thoroughbreds in action.
The gelding has made steady progress in his transformation and likely will be a full-time stable pony this winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where Doyle again will spend the winter.

BREEDERS’ CUP CONTENDERS STABLED AT KEENELAND

Keeneland is home to several potential contenders for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Nov. 3-4. Runners trained by Kenny McPeek and Wesley Ward already have departed.
Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup will be announced Wednesday.
Here are the trainers and their possible Breeders’ Cup runners who remain at Keeneland:

Trainer (Barn)
Horse
Breeders’ Cup Race
Last Race
Most Recent Work Since Last Race

To CA
Charles Appleby (quarantine)
Wuheida (GB)
Filly and Mare Turf
4th 10/1 Prix de l’Opera (G1) @Chantilly (scratched from 10/14 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) @KEE
10/24 @KEE: 5f (turf) in 1:04.80
10/25

Rusty Arnold (60)
Romantic Vision
Distaff
Won 10/8 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) @KEE

10/27
Chad Brown (30)
Rushing Fall
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Won 10/11 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) @KEE

10/30
Mark Casse (37-38)
Flameaway
Juvenile Turf
Won 10/8 Dixiana Bourbon (G3) @KEE
10/20 @KEE: 5f in 1:00
10/30

Heavenly Love
Juvenile Fillies
Won 10/6 Darley Alcibiades (G1) @KEE
10/20 @KEE: 5f in 1:00
10/30

Brian Lynch (40)
Heart to Heart
Mile
2nd 10/7 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) @KEE
10/22 @KEE: 4f (turf) in :49.20
10/27

Oscar Performance
Turf
3rd 9/30 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) @BEL
10/22 @KEE: 4f (turf) in :51.40
10/27

Todd Pletcher (27)
Stainless
Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Fillies
2nd 10/11 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) @KEE

10/30
Mike Stidham (2)
Moon Dash
Juvenile Fillies Turf
2nd 10/9 Surfer Girl Stakes @SA
10/22 @KEE:
4f in :51.20
10/30

Zipessa
Filly and Mare Turf
Won 10/7 First Lady (G1) @KEE
10/21 @KEE: 4f (all-weather training)
in :48.60
10/30

Roger Varian (quarantine)
Nezwaah (GB)
Turf/Filly and Mare Turf
5th in 10/15 E.P. Taylor (G1) @WO

10/25

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP DAY DRAWS BIG CROWD

Keeneland welcomed 2,282 college students last Friday for College Scholarship Day, one of the track’s most popular promotions. College students received free general admission with a valid student ID and a chance to win one of 10 college scholarships awarded after each of the day’s races.

Keeneland hosts College Scholarship Day in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Since it began in October 2002, the program has distributed more than $300,000 here.

Scholarship winners are Nick Kulaga of Asbury University; Allyson Ison of Bluegrass Community and Technical College; Angela Curley and Corbin Jeffries of Eastern Kentucky University; Dustin Haraway of Georgetown College; Cooper Theobald of Transylvania University; Robert Palmer Purcell, Destiny Schroeder, Lauren Slivka and Anna von Schmeling of the University of Kentucky.
Also awarded that day was the $10,000 Runhappy Scholarship, won by UK student Mary Kate Montray.

strong>FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 25
Keeneland Backstretch Tour. Click here for more information.
WINS-Day Challenge. An inexpensive way for beginning handicappers to test their skills and give handicapping contests a try, the WINS-Day Challenge has a $2,500 guaranteed pool. Enter for $10 at Wagering Central (first floor of the Grandstand) and place a mythical $2 win and place wager – no actual money required – on Keeneland races 3-8.
Thursday, Oct. 26
Official Keeneland Tour/Behind the Scenes Racing Tour. Click here for more information.
Kentucky State Parks Foundation Day at the Races. Fans are invited to support the Kentucky State Parks Foundation for its 5th annual Day at the Races. “The Works” package includes reserved row parking, brunch, reserved Grandstand seating and a race-day program. Brunch begins at 11 a.m. in the Limestone Cafe of the Keeneland Sales Pavilion. For more information, call 859 351-8430 or click here.

Friday, Oct. 27
Official Keeneland Tour/Behind the Scenes Racing Tour. Click here for more information.
SeeBlue. Day at the Races. The day before the University of Kentucky football team takes on archrival Tennessee, the weekend begins at Keeneland. UK students, alumni, faculty and staff will receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating with valid UK IDs. Throughout the afternoon, fans will enjoy special activities, including appearances by the UK Wildcat mascot, cheerleaders and band.

Tailgating on The Hill. Keeneland’s popular tailgate lot, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, features local food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ handicapping questions.
Saturday, Oct. 28 – Closing Day of Fall Meet
Sunrise Trackside Halloween Edition. Keeneland shares a special side of Thoroughbred racing that is worth getting up early to enjoy. Sponsored by LEX18, Sunrise Trackside is a free, family-friendly event with activities for all ages: Breakfast With the Works features breakfast for purchase and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.) while Thoroughbreds train on the main track; children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); Keeneland tours (7:30-10 a.m.); Paddock demonstration by Old Mims Retirement Haven featuring Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Elmhurst (9 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar with Paddock Host Katie Gensler (11 a.m.); and Q&A session with a jockey in the Paddock (12:05 p.m.).

Buckles, the Keeneland Kids Club mascot, will award Kids Club prize packages to some of the best Halloween costumes. An appearance by the Headless Horseman will occur in the Paddock during Sunrise Trackside and on the track during the race day.

FALL MEET LEADERS
Through Oct. 22 (13 days of racing)

Jockey
Starts
Wins
2nd
3rd
Purses

Julien Leparoux
66
13
8
5
$1,77,549
Florent Geroux
68
12
8
12
$898,360
Ricardo Santana Jr.
59
12
7
3
$505,566
Robby Albarado
73
11
7
12
$899,974
Jose Ortiz
33
8
7
5
$405,933

Trainer
Starts
Wins
2nd
3rd
Purses

Mike Maker
48
11
5
3
$466,331
Mark Casse
29
6
7
2
$961,553
Steve Asmussen
26
6
5
1
$349,028
Rusty Arnold
14
4
1
3
$488,718
Brad Cox
28
4
2
0
$159,474
Kenny McPeek
35
4
6
7
$433,669
Dale Romans
11
4
1
3
$451,450
Wesley Ward
26
4
4
1
$141,545

Owner
Wins

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.
4*
John C. Oxley
4
Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey
4
Charles E. Fipke
3
Three Diamonds Farm (Kirk Wycoff)
3
Ascent Thoroughbred Racing Partners I (Kirk Rovinsky, Robert Goldberg and Mark Zale)
2
Breeze Easy (Mike Hall)
2*
L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt
2
Jay Em Ess Stable (Samantha Siegel)
2
Maxis Stable (Sidney Karmia)
2*
*includes partnerships