Keeneland Barn Notes – Friday, April 5

By Amy Owens —-

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 – FIRST POST 1:05 P.M. ET

Click here for the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) Weekend microsite dedicated to opening weekend of the Spring Meet. Read biographies of the connections of horses entered in the 95th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass on Saturday, April 6; history and statistics for the race; and charts and replays. Site also includes history, statistics and charts
for the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on April 6, along with complete lists of nominees and past performances for the other stakes on opening weekend.

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First post today through the remainder of the Spring Meet is 1:05 p.m. The 16-day season
runs through Friday, April 26. Keeneland is closed Easter Sunday, April 21.

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· CHAMPION JAYWALK FOLLOWS SUCCESSFUL PATH FOR SERVIS

· BULLETIN GIVES PLETCHER FAST START WITH PALISADES TURF SPRINT VICTORY

· KENNEALLY SEEKS TO KEEP PERFECT RECORD IN CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND

· DeVAUX TO MAKE KEENELAND TRAINING DEBUT IN SUNDAY STAKES

· TRAINERS DISCUSS HORSES IN OPENING WEEKEND STAKES

· GALLOPING OUT

· UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

· OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

CHAMPION JAYWALK FOLLOWS SUCCESSFUL PATH FOR SERVIS

After Eclipse Award winner Jaywalk finished fourth in the Davona Dale (G2) in her 2019 debut, it came as no surprise that trainer John Servis’ next step with her would be a trip to Keeneland for the Central Bank Ashland (G1).

Servis made the journey in 2004 with Smarty Jones prior to winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) and three years ago when Cathryn Sophia ran third in the Central Bank Ashland before winning the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

“I brought ‘Smarty’ here first from Oaklawn and then over to Churchill Downs so he could have a work over the track,” Servis said. “Cathryn Sophia was doing so good here. I don’t know if it is the weather or them just acclimating to the cooler weather, but they just blossom here. I called my son Tyler up here the other day and asked which of the four we have here is doing the best, and he said they were all blossoming.”

D.J. Stable and Cash Is King’s Jaywalk, the morning-line favorite for the Central Bank Ashland, arrived here March 26 from South Florida. The plan is to stay here until April 28 before going to Louisville for the Kentucky Oaks on May 3.

“When Cathryn Sophia ran here in the Ashland, I was worried about her getting the distance,” Servis said of the filly, who was beaten only two necks. “She came out of it so good and I have to give a nod to (owner) Chuck (Zacney of Cash Is King) to go on to the Oaks. Then the decision was made easier when Songbird didn’t run.”

Winner of the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in November at Churchill Downs, Jaywalk did not return to the races until the Davona Dale on March 2.

“I was a little disappointed she didn’t win that day, but the winner (Jeltrin) ran huge,” Servis said about the Keeneland sale graduate. “When I am prepping for a big race off a layoff, the first race is a steppingstone.

“Somebody asked me what kind of Beyer (Speed Figure) I thought she would run and I thought it was be an 84 or 85. She ran an 81, so I wasn’t far off.”

In addition to Jaywalk, Servis will saddle Lucky Lee for Cash Is King in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2).

“I think he is going to run big,” Servis said.

BULLETIN GIVES PLETCHER FAST START
WITH PALISADES TURF SPRINT VICTORY

When Todd Pletcher won his fifth Keeneland training title last fall, he was fast out of the gate with a winner on opening day.

The pattern was repeated Thursday when Bulletin was fast out of the gate in a wire-to-wire victory in the first running of the $100,000 Palisades Turf Sprint. The performance came in the colt’s 2019 debut and his first race since winning the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (L) in November at Churchill Downs.

“He is fine this morning,” said Ginny DePasquale, who runs Pletcher’s Keeneland string. “He was a handful yesterday and was ready for another race.”

Owned by the partnership of WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing, Bulletin was ridden to the 1½-length victory by Javier Castellano.

“He’s a good horse and I enjoyed the ride,” said Castellano, who notched his 38th Keeneland stakes victory, a mark that is eighth best all time here.

Following the race, there was talk of possibly taking the undefeated Bulletin to Royal Ascot in England for the Commonwealth Cup (G1), a 6-furlong test on June 21. In 2018, Pletcher sent Gidu to the Commonwealth Cup in which he finished sixth.

“I never have been to Royal Ascot, but I would like to go,” said Castellano, who won riding titles here in the spring of 2015 and 2016. The four-time Eclipse Award winner and Hall of Famer is scheduled to ride here this weekend, Thursday through Sunday of next week and return April 20.

KENNEALLY SEEKS TO KEEP PERFECT RECORD
IN CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND

Anderson Stables’ Lady Kate has raced only twice, but trainer Eddie Kenneally has every reason to believe she will be competitive in Saturday’s $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) at 1 1/16 miles.

Kenneally has a perfect Ashland record with two triumphs from as many attempts. He won in 2006 with Bushfire, who was 15-1, and in 2017 with 22-1 longshot Sailor’s Valentine.

“Lady Kate is a lightly raced filly, but I am encouraged by how she came up from Florida like the other two,” Kenneally said. “They thrived when they came to Keeneland. They liked the cooler air and the race track, which encouraged me to run them in the Ashland. Sailor’s Valentine worked really, really well over this track, and Lady Kate worked just as well here last Saturday.”

Lady Kate’s time that morning for 5 furlongs was :59.60, the best of 24 at the distance.

In her career debut on Jan. 12, Lady Kate won a Gulfstream Park maiden race. She next was second in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 9.

“There are horses in the Ashland with way more experience than her, but she is on the improve,” Kenneally said.

Bushfire’s Ashland score propelled Kenneally’s career to a new level that included his first year with more than $1 million in stable earnings.

“She gave our stable a nice kick start because she went on and won the Acorn (G1) and Mother Goose (G1),” he said about his first Grade 1 winner. “The Ashland moved her forward and moved my career forward as well.”

DeVAUX TO MAKE KEENELAND TRAINING DEBUT IN SUNDAY STAKES

The name Cherie DeVaux in the trainer column of the Keeneland program might be new to fans, but she is well known in the racing community. DeVaux, who is married to Central Kentucky-based bloodstock agent David Ingordo, was closely associated with champion Lady Eli when she worked for trainer Chad Brown.

DeVaux, who spent eight years with Brown, obtained her trainer’s license in 2018. She earned her first victory March 29 at Gulfstream Park. On Sunday, DeVaux will send out her first Keeneland starter, Dixiana Farms’ Primela (FR), in the $200,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.

Primela, a 3-year-old daughter of Orpen, is one of about a dozen horses DeVaux is training at Keeneland.

The filly finished fourth in the March 2 Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream after making her first seven starts in France.

“She is a lovely filly and has quite a lot of energy,” DeVaux said. “She is training really well. I couldn’t ask for her to be doing any better.”

DeVaux said Primela benefited from her North American debut in the Herecomesthebride.

“She has mostly been running in sprints where she was forwardly placed,” DeVaux said. “In the Herecomesthebride, she was farther back than what would have been ideal. But she came with a really nice run and got a lot out of the race both educationally and fitness wise. In the Appalachian, we hope she is not so far back.”

DeVaux is from the Saratoga Springs, New York, area, and her family is involved in Standardbred racing. Her brother Jimmy has won more than 5,000 races as a driver/trainer. DeVaux gravitated toward the Thoroughbred world when she became a stable worker for Chuck Simon at Saratoga. She spent six years working for Simon before transferring to the Brown barn where she became an assistant.

Lady Eli, who won the 2015 Appalachian, sold in foal to War Front for the sale-topping price of $4.2 million at Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale.

DeVaux plans to visit the champion, who delivered a colt March 21 at nearby Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms.

“When I have a free moment, the first thing I am going to do is see Lady Eli and her foal,” she said. “It will be exciting to see her as a mom. Last April (2018) I went to see her, and she knew I was the lady with the treats. She is very sweet around me as long as I come bearing gifts.”

TRAINERS DISCUSS HORSES IN OPENING WEEKEND STAKES

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach talked to these trainers about their horses entered in the Spring Meet’s opening weekend stakes:

Kenny McPeek on Restless Rider in the Central Bank Ashland (G1) and Signalman in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2). Both races are on Saturday.

Dallas Stewart on Aquadini and Chess Chief in the Toyota Blue Grass, Out for a Spin in the Central Bank Ashland and Cathedral Reader in Saturday’s Madison (G1).

Ben Colebrook on Limousine Liberal in the Commonwealth (G3) on Saturday and Fancy Dress Party in Sunday’s Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select.

Brad Cox on Will Call in Saturday’s Shakertown (G2) and the return of Grade 2 winner Arklow, making his 2019 debut in Friday’s seventh race.

GALLOPING OUT

On Thursday, the first race of the 2019 Spring Meet produced a $29.40 winner when Savannah Goebel’s Mean Sophia scored a 10½-length victory in the 4½-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies. The performance marked the first Keeneland win for trainer Cirilo Gorostieta and jockey Augustin Gomez. Mean Sophia’s time was :51.59.

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

$300,000 MAKER’S 46 MILE (G1) (Entries taken Sunday, April 7; race Friday, April 12) – Doctor Mounty (trained by Shug McGaughey), Great Wide Open (IRE) (Conor Murphy), Heart to Heart (Brian Lynch), Hembree (Mike Maker), Qurbaan (Kiaran McLaughlin), Raging Bull (FR) (Chad Brown) and Synchrony (Mike Stidham).

$100,000 LIMESTONE TURF SPRINT (Entries taken Sunday, April 7; race Friday, April 12) – Beechwood Ella (IRE) (Patrick Biancone), Blame the Frog (Ben Colebrook), Bohemian Bourbon (Ian Wilkes), Catherinethegreat (Mark Casse), Elle’s Town (Tracey Glover), O’Keefe (Larry Rivelli), Thriving (GB) (Jeff Mullins) and Vinca (Mike Maker). Possible: Eyeinthesky (Mark Casse).

$350,000 COOLMORE JENNY WILEY (G1) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Bellevais (Todd Pletcher), Got Stormy (Mark Casse), Onthemoonagain (FR) (Chad Brown), Princess Warrior (Kenny McPeek), Rushing Fall (Brown) and Rymska (FR) (Brown).

$200,000 STONESTREET LEXINGTON (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Anothertwistafate (Blaine Wright), Award Winner (Brian Lynch), Chase the Ghost (Dallas Stewart), Durkin’s Call (Bill Mott), Owendale (Brad Cox), Skywire (Mark Casse), Sueno (Keith Desormeaux) and Zenden (Victor Barboza Jr.). Possible: Knicks Go (Ben Colebrook) and Preamble (Rodolphe Brisset).

$200,000 BEN ALI (G3) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Bourbon Resolution (Ian Wilkes), Flameaway (Mark Casse) and Noble Commander (Phil D’Amato). Possible: Krewe Chief (Mike Maker) and Kukulkan (MEX) (Fausto Gutierrez).

$100,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (L) (Entries taken Wednesday, April 10; race Saturday, April 13) – Excessivespending (Chris Hartman), La Dame Blanche (Ian Wilkes), Morticia (Rusty Arnold), Mrs. Ramona G. (Jeremiah Englehart) and Student Body (Chris Davis).

OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the Keeneland Library is one of the world’s largest repositories of information related to the Thoroughbred. In its exhibit “Herbert Haseltine: The Gold Standard,” visitors will see two prominent works from the latter period of the acclaimed sculptor of the early 20th century: “The Thoroughbred Horse” and “Portrait of the Racehorse Tom Fool.” The exhibit “From the Vault: Jockeys” features 26 images dating from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century from the Library’s archive of more than 1 million negatives and photographic prints. Varied memorabilia from Hall of Fame jockeys Eddie Arcaro, Ted Atkinson and Bill Shoemaker accompany the photographs. The Library is open weekdays at no charge from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Official Keeneland Tours – Keeneland offers a selection of year-round, guided racing and sales tours, including Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tours, Owner’s Experience Tours and Backstretch Tours with a Day at the Races. Behind-the-Scenes Sales Tours will be offered April 8-9. On Saturdays during Sunrise Trackside, free guided tours begin every 20 minutes from the welcome stand near the Paddock and Walking Ring from 7:30-10 a.m.

Friday, April 5

The Hill – Fans who like to tailgate will enjoy the festive atmosphere of The Hill, where they can watch races on a jumbo TV and place wagers. The Hill also features food trucks, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and complimentary shuttles to the track. On Saturdays, bluegrass music presented by The Burl, a popular live music venue in Lexington, will perform from noon to 4 p.m.

College Scholarship Day – Full-time college students from Kentucky and beyond will vie for $30,000 in scholarships on College Scholarship Day, which Keeneland holds in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Two $10,000 Runhappy Scholarships will be awarded in addition to $1,000 scholarships awarded after each of the day’s 10 races. One Runhappy Scholarship and one of the $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who work in the Thoroughbred industry or have parents who work in the industry. Pre-register online by 5 p.m. April 4 to pass the line. Students receive free general admission April 5 and can register at the College Zone in the North Terrace, which will have music, free snacks and prize drawings.

$200,000 Friday Pick Four Presented by TVG. Includes races 7-10.

The Keeneland Shop Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore Millinery (April 4-6) and Trunk Show with Darren K. Moore (April 4-6) and Maui Jim (April 5-6).

Saturday, April 6

Sunrise Trackside – The day begins early for racehorses. Keeneland invites you and your family to experience their mornings with Breakfast With the Works, which features breakfast for purchase and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.) while horses train on the main track. The event includes children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); guided Keeneland tours that depart from the welcome stand near the Paddock (7:30-10 a.m.) and Paddock demonstration of a farrier from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital (9-9:30 a.m). Parking and admission to the morning events are free.

Q&A with jockey Javier Castellano. 12:05 p.m. in the Walking Ring.

The Hill – Fans who like to tailgate will enjoy the festive atmosphere of The Hill, where they can watch races on a jumbo TV and place wagers. The Hill also features food trucks, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and complimentary shuttles to the track. On Saturdays, bluegrass music presented by The Burl, a popular live music venue in Lexington, will perform from noon to 4 p.m.

The Keeneland Shop Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore Millinery (April 4-6) and Trunk Show with Darren K. Moore (April 4-6) and Maui Jim (April 5-6).

$300,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five (races 6-10) and $400,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four (races 7-10) Presented by TVG

NYRA Cross Country Wager featuring the Toyota Blue Grass (G2), Central Bank Ashland (G1) and Madison (G1) from Keeneland and the Wood Memorial (G2) and a second race from Aqueduct.

Sunday, April 7

Kids Club Family Day – The Keeneland Kids Club is our Official Kids Club for fans 12 and younger. Members and their families are invited to enjoy a special day at the races with free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m.

TVG-PDJF Telethon – Hall of Fame jockeys and TVG personalities at Keeneland and Santa Anita will participate in a second telethon to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) live on TVG. Racing fans and industry stakeholders may call, chat and contribute at
1-844-TVG-PDJF from noon to 7 p.m. ET. Donations are accepted any time at https://pdjf.org/donate/. Last year’s inaugural telethon raised nearly $230,000.

Tuesday, April 9

Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale – The auction, free and open to the public, begins in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion at 2 p.m.