Keeneland Barn Notes — Saturday, Oct. 5

By Amy Owens —-

FALL STARS WEEKEND – SATURDAY, OCT. 5
Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet concludes Saturday, Oct. 26, with racing Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 p.m. ET.

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• “PRETTY COOL” DARLEY ALCIBIADES WINNER BRITISH IDIOM RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS SUNDAY
• STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX VICTOR ENGAGE HEADS TO CHURCHILL
• HORSEMEN DISCUSS ENTRANTS IN FALL STARS WEEKEND STAKES
• RUSHING FALL SEEKS FIFTH KEENELAND STAKES WIN
• OWNERS ON VERGE OF KEENELAND MILESTONES
• MCPEEK SEEKS FOURTH DIXIANA BOURBON WITH FIGHTING SEABEE
• GRADE 1 WINNER RESTLESS RIDER AMONG 33 LEXUS RAVEN RUN NOMINEES
• GALLOPING OUT
• UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
• FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

“PRETTY COOL” DARLEY ALCIBIADES WINNER BRITISH IDIOM
RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS SUNDAY

British Idiom, who earned a berth in the $2 million Breeders; Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita with her 6½-length romp in Friday’s Darley Alcibiades (G1), is scheduled to rejoin trainer Brad Cox’s string at Churchill Downs Sunday, according to Cox’s Keeneland assistant Tessa Bisha.
“She goes back tomorrow,” Bisha said. “I had her for four months at Ellis Park, and we knew she was good but didn’t know how good.”
In just her second start, British Idiom stalked the pace, swept past the leader leaving the far turn and drew off to win comfortably for the ownership group of Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables.
“She’s a pretty cool filly,” Bisha said. “She took a nap before the race all covered in shavings.”
Tracy Farmer’s runner-up, Perfect Alibi, a two-time graded stakes winner, remains on track for the Breeders’ Cup, according to trainer Mark Casse.
Casse said Perfect Alibi likely would join his main string at Churchill and train there before going to Santa Anita.
“I’ve got a plane five or six days out (from the Breeders’ Cup) and hopefully after the next couple days and next Wednesday I may have a few more,” Casse said.
Casse has nine runners entered here in the six remaining Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races, including five today beginning with Hanelei Moon in the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1).
Other Casse runners today are Tap It to Win and Enforceable in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and First Premio and March to the Arch in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
On Sunday, he has Prince of Thieves and Peace Achieved in the Dixiana Bourbon (G3) and Old Chestnut in the Indian Summer. On Wednesday, he has Diamond Sparkles in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2).
Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Alandra, who rallied to finish third as the favorite, is scheduled to return to New York, said Reeve McGaughey, assistant to his father, Shug McGaughey.
“She came back fine,” Reeve McGaughey said. “She would have had to have won yesterday to go to the Breeders’ Cup. She will probably go to the two stakes up there ($150,000 Tempted at a mile Nov. 1 and $250,000 Demoiselle-G2 at 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 7) if all goes well.”

STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX VICTOR
ENGAGE HEADS TO CHURCHILL

Woodford Racing’s Engage came out of his half-length victory in Friday’s Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) in good shape and was scheduled to return to Steve Asmussen’s barn at Churchill Downs today, according to Asmussen assistant Ronny Werner.
The victory earned Engage a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
Engage and third-place finisher Lexitonian were the only two Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix runners to have worked over the track last week.
“He was on one of the first loads to ship in here,” Werner said of Engage, who had been at Saratoga.
Runner-up Whitmore returned to trainer Ron Moquett’s barn at Churchill last night.
“He missed the break, spotted the field about 14 lengths and on a speed-favoring race track,” Moquett said of Whitmore, who was making his first start in four months.
Owned in part by Moquett’s Southern Springs Stable, Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore won the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix in 2017 and was second last year before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.
“Like I always do, the horse will decide where he goes,” Moquett said of a possible Breeders’ Cup run. “We are just along for the ride.”
Jack Sisterson, trainer of Calumet Farm’s Lexitonian, said the Breeders’ Cup Sprint also was a possibility for his 3-year-old runner.
“We may look at it (the Breeders’ Cup Sprint) and we may have some other horses (for the 14-race World Championships),” Sisterson said.
Lexitonian briefly struck his head in front at midstretch but could not hold off his older rivals.
“He really tried,” Sisterson said. “(Jockey) Adam (Beschizza) stayed aggressive on him and when you put him in a battle, he will give 110 percent.”

HORSEMEN DISCUSS ENTRANTS IN FALL STARS WEEKEND STAKES

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach talked to these horsemen about their entrants in Fall Stars Weekend stakes today and tomorrow:
Trainer Brad Cox on Juliet Foxtrot (GB) in today’s First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1).
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione on Leinster in today’s Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select.
Exercise rider Jamie Mackay on Vintager (GB) in today’s Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
Trainer Joe Sharp on Art Collector in Sunday’s Dixiana Bourbon (G3).
Brendan Walsh on Maxfield in today’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Extravagant Kid in today’s Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select and his two starters in Sunday’s Dixiana Bourbon, The Third Secret and Vitalogy (GB).

RUSHING FALL SEEKS FIFTH KEENELAND STAKES WIN
Rushing Fall will bid for her fifth graded stakes win at Keeneland in today’s eighth race, the $400,000 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1).
Owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trained by Chad Brown, Rushing Fall is perfect in her four previous Keeneland races. She captured the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) as a 2-year-old in 2017 and last year won the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1). This spring she won the Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1).
With four Keeneland stakes wins, Rushing Fall is tied with Take Charge Lady for the second most stakes wins here. Wise Dan won a record seven stakes here.
With a 5:04 p.m. post time, the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare is a Win and You’re In race for the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Santa Anita at a distance of 1¼ miles.

OWNERS ON VERGE OF KEENELAND MILESTONES

Keeneland offers a Milestone Trophy Program that features several levels of recognition for owners whose horses win graded stakes and excel at the highest level of competition. Today, two owners are on the verge of unique accomplishments at the track.
A win by Juliet Foxtrot (GB) in the eighth race, the $400,000 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1), will earn for owner Khaled Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms a Keeneland Pitcher in recognition of Juddmonte’s 16th graded stakes victory at Keeneland.

Three other owners in Keeneland history have earned a Keeneland Pitcher for their success: Claiborne Farm (Fall 1968), Millard Waldheim’s Bwamazon Farm (Spring 1983) and William S. Farish (Spring 2003).
Mrs. Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation has two chances to win a Keeneland Tray, which recognizes an owner with eight graded stakes wins at the track. Live Oak has entered Tap It to Win in the ninth race, the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and March to the Arch in the 10th race, the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
Only 20 other owners in Keeneland history have received a Keeneland Tray.

MCPEEK SEEKS FOURTH DIXIANA BOURBON WITH FIGHTING SEABEE

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who has won the Dixiana Bourbon (G3) three times, believes he has his best candidate yet for the race in Walking L Thoroughbreds’ unbeaten Fighting Seabee. The Dixiana Bourbon, a 1 1/16th-mile turf test for 2-year-olds on Sunday, is a “Win and You’re In” event that provides the winner with an expense-paid starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.
Fighting Seabee comes to the Dixiana Bourbon after a front-running victory in the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 28. In his only other start, the Summer Front colt came from off the pace to capture a maiden race at Ellis Park on July 6.
“He was ready to run early in the summer so we started him at Ellis Park instead of waiting for the Saratoga meet,” McPeek said. “He won in a canter and he won for fun. He was in Saratoga all summer and after the With Anticipation he came to my Keeneland division on Rice Road. He’s had several breezes over the grass course here. He is well adapted and ready to go.”
McPeek most recently won the Dixiana Bourbon in 2014 with Turf Stable’s Lawn Ranger, who went on to finish sixth in the inaugural Juvenile Turf. His 2010 winner, Catesby Clay’s Rogue Romance, was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on dirt. McPeek’s other winner was Joyce and Roy Monroe’s Pineaff in 1998 when the race was known as the Hopemont.
“Fighting Seabee is one of the best horses I have had for this race, including the three who won,” he said. “He does everything very easily and he is a horse with a bright future. He is improving and thriving right now. He is really talented. If he runs well in the Dixiana Bourbon, he will point for the Breeders’ Cup.”

GRADE 1 WINNER RESTLESS RIDER
AMONG 33 LEXUS RAVEN RUN NOMINEES

Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables Restless Rider, winner of last fall’s Darley Alcibiades (G1) and a three-time Grade 1 runner-up for trainer Kenny McPeek, is among 33 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 21st running of the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) to be run Oct. 19.
The Lexus Raven Run, contested at 7 furlongs on the main track, is among four graded stakes to be run during the third week of the 17-day Fall Meet.
Kicking off the stakes action on Thursday, Oct. 17 is the 25th running of the $150,000 Sycamore (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf. Among the 37 nominees are Grade 2 winners Focus Group and Manitoulin.
The following day will feature the 29th running of the $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the grass. Among the 50 nominees are seven invitees to next Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) and The Mackem Bullet (IRE), winner of this spring’s Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.
The 28th running of the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) for fillies and mares going 1½ miles on the grass on Sunday, Oct. 20 drew 39 nominations including Beach Flower, who was third in last year’s running.

GALLOPING OUT

Cheryl Winebaugh earned her first Keeneland victory in the first race of the Fall Meet when Silver Leaf Stables’ 13-1 longshot Bordini won Friday’s opener. Mitchell Murrell rode the 7-year-old Bernardini gelding to a half-length victory in the 6-furlong race.

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

$150,000 BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY-G3 (Entries taken Sunday; race Friday, Oct. 11) – A Little Bit Me (trainer Richard Baltas), Beechwood Ella (IRE) (Patrick Biancone), Change of Control (Michelle Lovell), Girls Know Best (Eddie Kenneally), Miss Gossip (IRE) (Eduardo Caramori), Morticia (Rusty Arnold), Oleksandra (AUS) (Neil Drysdale), Painting Corners (Peter Miller), Take These Chains (IRE) (Ben Colebrook). Possible: Goldwood (Jorge Duarte Jr.), Ruby Notion (Darrin Miller), Violent Times (Ralph Nicks).
$500,000 QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END-G1 (Entries taken Wednesday; race Saturday Oct. 12) – Invited horses: Café Americano (trainer Chad Brown), Cambier Parc (Brown), Carnival Colors (GB) (Mike Stidham), Castle Lady (IRE) (Henri-Alex Pantall), Kelsey’s Cross (Patrick Biancone), Lady Prancealot (IRE) (Richard Baltas), Magnetic Charm (GB) (William Haggas), Maxim Rate (Simon Callaghan), Mucho Unusual (Tim Yakteen), Princesa Carolina (Kenny McPeek), Regal Glory (Brown), Varenka (Graham Motion).

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

All Year
Official Keeneland Tours – A variety of guided walking tours showcase Keeneland’s Thoroughbred racing and sales operations. Click here for more information.
Through March 2020
The Keeneland Library Presents “A Day in the Life: Volume I” – This new exhibit features the work of early Turf photographer John C. Hemment. The Keeneland Library is home to the largest known surviving body of work of Hemment, a photographer during the late 19th and early 20th century. A virtual counterpart of the Hemment exhibit is at keenelandlibrary.omeka.net/exhibits. Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the Library is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
Saturday, Oct. 5 – Fall Stars Weekend

The Hill – Keeneland’s official tailgate lot features a jumbo screen to watch live racing and football, wagering booths, live music with The Swells, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand.

The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore and Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore.

$300,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five and $400,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four.

Sunday, Oct. 6 – Fall Stars Weekend
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore and Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore.