Keeneland Barn Notes — Wednesday, Oct. 9

By Amy Owens —-

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9

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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· MAGNETIC CHARM (GB) HAS UNIQUE CONNECTION TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END

· GALLOPING OUT

· UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

· EAST GATE SHOP IN SADDLING PADDOCK CHALET IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

· FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

· FALL MEET LEADERS

MAGNETIC CHARM (GB) HAS UNIQUE CONNECTION
TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END

Magnetic Charm (GB) might have an edge in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) for one simple reason: She is owned by Her Majesty, The Queen, who 35 years ago was at Keeneland for the first running of the race named in her honor.

The Queen is an astute Thoroughbred breeder and owner who has raced horses since the late 1940s. Her visit here in October 1984 during a private six-day trip to Central Kentucky is one of the most famous chapters in Keeneland history. She watched a mock Thoroughbred sale in the Sales Pavilion, met members of the jockey colony and presented the trophy after Cherry Valley Farm’s favored Sintra, a daughter of Drone ridden by Keith Allen for trainer Steve Penrod, won her namesake race.

Her trip also included visiting nearby farms to see prominent stallions.

The Queen and Prince Philip attended the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) as guests of Will and Sarah Farish of Lane’s End Farm.

The Queen has raced a few horses over the years at Keeneland but never has started a horse in her namesake race, which Lane’s End has sponsored since 2014. Her homebred New Assembly (IRE) won an allowance race during the 2001 Spring Meet. Her other Keeneland starters since then, according to Equibase, were homebred Forward Move (IRE), second in an allowance during the 2006 Fall Meet, and homebred Medley (GB), fourth in an allowance during the 2008 Fall Meet.

All three were trained by Christophe Clement.

Magnetic Charm, a daughter of Exceed And Excel (AUS) bred by Godolphin and trained by William Haggas, has won two of eight races. She began her career in England and was second by a neck in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot while carrying 133 pounds. On Sept. 14, the filly made her North American debut at Woodbine and ran second in the Canadian Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2).

The Woodbine performance earned Magnetic Charm an invitation to the QEII, and she was vanned to Keeneland with stablemate Awesometank (GB), who was 10th in Woodbine’s Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1). Awesometank made her next start last Saturday in the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare (G1).

Haggas’ assistant Harry Eustace was at Keeneland for the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare, in which Awesometank was sixth.

On Sunday, Magnetic Charm and jockey Florent Geroux breezed 5 furlongs on the Keeneland turf in 1:02.40.

Eustace flew back to England earlier this week and will return for the QE II.

Magnetic Charm will break from post seven in the field of nine with Geroux aboard.

“She’s very straightforward and tries incredibly hard,” Eustace said about the filly. “She ran one of her best races in Canada. She’s trained well since at Keeneland. It’s a great place for horses to come to, and she’s really blossomed since she got there. Fingers crossed, and she can run well and give the Queen something to cheer about.”

Another international competitor entered in the QE II Presented by Lane’s End is Godolphin’s Castle Lady (IRE), who made her first appearance on Keeneland’s main track Wednesday morning, galloping once around under Luc Chasserio.

Unraced since finishing fifth in the Coronation (G1) at Royal Ascot in England in June, Castle Lady arrived at Keeneland Tuesday morning and trained on Keeneland’s all-weather training track.

Trainer Henri-Alex Pantall is scheduled to arrive in Lexington Friday night.

GALLOPING OUT

R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables’ Vekoma, winner of this spring’s Toyota Blue Grass (G2), “is ready to go back in training,” trainer George Weaver said Wednesday morning.

Unraced since finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Vekoma is at nearby Margaux Farm in Midway.

“He grabbed a quarter at Saratoga (while in training this summer) and just wasn’t 100 percent,” Weaver said about the hoof injury

Weaver has Jim and Susan Hill’s Daddy Is a Legend back in his barn after she had a vacation at Margaux.

“She worked a half-mile on the grass (:50.80) on Sunday for Rusty (Arnold) and came back to my barn two days ago,” Weaver said. “I’d like to possibly run her before the end of the meet (Oct. 26).”

Nominated to the Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) on Oct. 20, Daddy Is a Legend has not raced since finishing third in the Just a Game (G1) in June. She is a two-time Grade 3 winner with graded stakes placing in five other races.

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

$150,000 Sycamore (G3) (Entries taken Saturday; race Thursday, Oct. 17) – Focus Group (trainer Chad Brown), Marzo (Mike Maker), Space Mountain (Maker).

$150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) (Entries taken Sunday; race Friday, Oct. 18) – Blowout (GB) (Chad Brown), Carnival Colors (GB) (Mike Stidham), Catch a Bid (Brown), Maxim Rate (Simon Callaghan), Turf War (Brown), Winning Envelope (Chris Block), Winter Sunset (Wayne Catalano).

$250,000 Lexus Raven (G2) (Entries taken Wednesday, Oct. 16; Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 19) – Bell’s the One (Neil Pessin), Oxy Lady (Jack Sisterson).

$125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) (Entries taken Thursday, Oct. 17; race Sunday, Oct. 20) – Gaining (GB) (Brad Cox), Lafta (Patrick Biancone).

EAST GATE SHOP IN SADDLING PADDOCK CHALET
IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Keeneland fans no doubt have seen the Saddling Paddock Chalet, which offers an up-close look at the racehorses before each race. Patrons are invited to make reservations in the Chalet to enjoy the unique location, which offers a premium buffet and other amenities such as a Wagering Central hub and bourbon tastings – all in a modern, business casual setting.

The first floor of the Saddling Paddock Chalet – in a corner near the East Gate Grandstand entrance – includes a satellite location of The Keeneland Shop called the East Gate Shop. The East Gate Shop is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. ET until 30 minutes after the final race. (Re-entry to the track is available through the East Gate entrance.)

The East Gate Shop has a selection of hats, T-shirts and other Keeneland souvenir items. On Wednesdays and Thursdays during the Fall Meet, the East Gate Shop is offering $5 off a hat purchase (offer not available at The Keeneland Shop and Milliners Corner or at satellite locations at Wagering Central and the finish line).

The East Gate Shop also has personalization and engraving options to give fans the opportunity to customize their purchases. A complimentary bag check enables fans to leave their purchases there during the races and pick them up when they leave.

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

All Year

Official Keeneland Tours – A variety of guided walking tours showcase Keeneland’s 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.

Wednesday, Oct. 9

WINS-Day Challenge Sponsored by Malone’s – Handicappers of all levels can test their skills through this contest, which has a guaranteed $2,500 pool. The entry fee is $10.

Thursday, Oct. 10

Make-A-Wish Day – For 12 years, Keeneland and local Thoroughbred farms and organizations have granted wishes for deserving children of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Children and their families will receive a VIP experience at Keeneland that includes presenting a trophy after each race and meeting jockeys. Racing fans may make a donation to Make-A-Wish in the Wishing Well near the Keeneland Paddock. This year’s sponsors are Ashford Stud, Claiborne Farm, Denali Stud, Flaxman Holdings/Frizzy Foundation, Gainesway Farm, Godolphin, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Horse Country, Keeneland, Lane’s End Farm, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Shadwell Farm, Spendthrift Farm, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, Stonestreet Farm, Taylor Made Stallions and WKYT.

The Keeneland Shop presents Milliners Corner with Dorfman Pacific.

Friday, Oct. 11

Big Blue Day at the Races – Keeneland will welcome Big Blue Nation the day before the University of Kentucky football team hosts the University of Arkansas. UK students, alumni, faculty and staff will receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating with valid UK IDs, and other special activities throughout the day will help fans cheer for the Wildcats.

Buffalo Trace Giveaway – On the day the Buffalo Trace Franklin County is the featured race, fans can enter to win a VIP Buffalo Trace Distillery Experience. The first 2,000 people to register will receive a free Buffalo Trace drawstring bag with a pair of Buffalo Trace sunglasses.

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

$200,000-guaranteed Friday Pick Four Presented by TVG.

The Keeneland Shop presents Milliners Corner with Dorfman Pacific and Forme Millinery.

Saturday, Oct. 12

Sunrise Trackside – Families, out-of-town guests, longtime Keeneland fans and others will enjoy spending a morning at the track before the races begin. Watch racehorses train over the track and enjoy Breakfast With the Works and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.); take photos with a life-size cutout of Secretariat (7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); free guided tours of the grounds (7:30-10 a.m.) and a demonstration by the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center in the Paddock (9 a.m.).

Secretariat Festival – Keeneland is the new home of this annual event that celebrates the beloved Triple Crown winner. The Secretariat Bronze Monument created by Jocelyn Russell and commissioned by the City of Lexington – and set to be permanently located in the roundabout at Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Drive in Lexington – will be unveiled outside the main entrance of the Keeneland Sales Pavilion at 10:45 a.m. Click here for more information about the festival. Events in the Sales Pavilion will take place from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

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

Keeneland Fall Challenge handicapping contest. Click here for more information and to register.

The Keeneland Shop presents Milliners Corner with Dorfman.

$300,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Presented by TVG

Sunday, Oct. 13

Kids Club Family Day – The Keeneland Kids Club is for fans 12 and younger. A day at the races for members and their families will include free general admission, access to reserved Grandstand seating and special activities including taking photos with a life-size cutout of Triple Crown winner Secretariat.

Secretariat Festival – This annual event celebrates the beloved Triple Crown winner. Click here for more information. Events in Keeneland’s Sales Pavilion take place from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Fall BCBC-NHC handicapping tournament – The tournament, which drew a record 171 entries in 2018, will award as many as five spots to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge at Santa Anita and eight spots to the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas in 2020. Click here for more information and to register.

The Keeneland Shop presents Milliners Corner with Dorfman.