Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, April 7

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet opens Friday and runs through Friday, April 29.
First post is at 1 p.m. ET except April 9 and April 29 when the first post is 12:30 p.m.

Keeneland is closed for racing Mondays, Tuesdays and Easter Sunday, April 17.

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· RADIO DAYS HEADS FIELD OF SEVEN FOR BEAUMONT PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

· TWILIGHT GLEAMING (IRE) MAKES 2022 DEBUT IN PALISADES

· PLETCHER HAS TWO CHANCES FOR RECORD FOURTH TOYOTA BLUE GRASS STAKES VICTORY

· INTERSTATEDAYDREAM COULD GIVE COX SECOND CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND VICTORY

· WALSH SENDS THE LIR JET (IRE) AND PREVALENCE AFTER SATURDAY STAKES GLORY

· BRINKMAN HOPES THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM FOR CILLA AT KEENELAND

· TRAINERS DISCUSS WEEKEND STAKES RUNNERS

· “KEENELAND LOOK AHEAD” HANDICAPPING PROGRAM DEBUTS TONIGHT

· KEENELAND STAKES INCLUDED IN SATURDAY’S
CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5

· GALLOPING OUT

· PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR APRIL 15-16 STAKES

· SPRING MEET OPENING WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS

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RADIO DAYS HEADS FIELD OF SEVEN FOR BEAUMONT PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

Joseph Allen’s Radio Days, runner-up in the Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream Park in February headlines a compact field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered Thursday for Sunday’s 37th running of the $400,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select to be run over the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet.

The Beaumont serves as the final stop on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with 17 points up for grabs on a 10-4-2-1 scale for the first- through fourth-place finishers. The Kentucky Oaks, to be run May 6 at Churchill Downs, is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box. None of the Beaumont entrants has any Oaks points.

The Beaumont will go as the eighth race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time. First post Sunday is 1 p.m.

Trained by two-time Beaumont winner Shug McGaughey, Radio Days comes into Sunday’s race off a fourth-place effort in the Busher Invitational (L) at Aqueduct on March 5. Joel Rosario has the mount Sunday and will break from post two.

The field for the Beaumont, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Lady Scarlet (Jose Ortiz, 118 pounds), Radio Days (Rosario, 118), Majestic d’Oro (Joe Talamo, 118), Gina Romantica (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118), Reagan’s Decision (Luis Saez, 118), Chi Town Lady (John Velazquez, 118) and Matareya (Flavien Prat, 118).

TWILIGHT GLEAMING (IRE) MAKES 2022 DEBUT IN PALISADES

Stonestreet Stables’ Twilight Gleaming (IRE), who closed her 2021 campaign with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar, heads a field of eight 3-year-olds entered Thursday for Sunday’s third running of the $200,000 Palisades (L) going 5½ furlongs on the turf.

The Palisades will go as the seventh race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a 4:12 p.m. ET post time.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who won last year’s Palisades with Chasing Artie, Twilight Gleaming has won three of her four grass starts with the lone setback coming in the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot I England in June. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will break from post position seven.

Ward also will send out Gregory Kaufman’s Kaufymaker, who finished third, beaten a length by Twilight Gleaming in the Breeders’ Cup. Also making her 2022 debut, Kaufymaker will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post five.

Twilight Gleaming and Kaufymaker are the two fillies in the Palisades field.

The field for the Palisades with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Classicstateofmind (Jose Ortiz, 118 pounds), Slipstream (Joel Rosario, 120), Baytown Frosty (Javier Padron-Barcenas, 118), Pure Panic (Adam Beschizza, 118), Kaufymaker (Velazquez, 113), Circle Back Jack (Rafael Mojica Jr., 118), Twilight Gleaming (IRE) (Ortiz Jr., 118) and No Nay Franklin (IRE) (Florent Geroux, 118).

PLETCHER HAS TWO CHANCES FOR RECORD FOURTH TOYOTA BLUE GRASS STAKES VICTORY

Five trainers have won the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) three times. On Saturday, Todd Pletcher can become the first to reach four when he sends out Emmanuel for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm and Commandperformance for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.

Both colts are trying to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve gate in four weeks by picking up points in Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass, which offers 170 points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the first- through fourth-place finishers. The Kentucky Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box.

Commandperformance (6 points) will be trying to join Irap (2017) as the only maidens to win the Toyota Blue Grass. He will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post one, while Emmanuel (5 points) breaks from post six under Luis Saez.

“I was happy with both draws,” said Pletcher, who has three other runners shooting for a Derby spot that are entered in Saturday’s Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct. “(Opting for the Toyota Blue Grass for Commandperformance) was a difficult decision, but we liked that we could keep Irad on Commandperformance at Keeneland.”

Pletcher, Keeneland’s all-time leading stakes winning trainer with 59 victories, could pad that number Friday on the opening day of the 15-day Spring Meet with runners in all three stakes.

Topping the trio is Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest, the morning-line favorite for the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1). The Central Bank Ashland offers 170 points toward the $1.25 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first- through fourth-place finishers.

The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box. Nest has accumulated 20 points, a total good for 14th place on the leaderboard with four points races remaining before the May 6 race.

Pletcher also will be represented Friday by Robert and Lawana Low’s My Prankster, the morning-line favorite for the $400,000 Lafayette, and Whisper Hill Farm’s Grand Sonata, the second choice in the $400,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3).

INTERSTATEDAYDREAM COULD GIVE COX SECOND CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND VICTORY

Trainer Brad Cox recorded the first of his 16 Keeneland stakes victories in the spring of 2018 when future two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl won the Central Bank Ashland (G1).

On Friday’s opening-day program, Cox will send out Interstatedaydream for owner Staton Flurry in his quest for a second victory in the race. Florent Geroux, who rode Monomoy Girl to victory in her Central Bank Ashland triumph, has the call on Interstatedaydream, who will break from post position two.

“She just shipped in (from Oaklawn Park),” Cox said. “She ran a big number at Oaklawn and I think she can be competitive.”

Interstatedaydream came off a seven-month layoff to win her 2022 debut by 8¼ lengths on March 13 at the Central Bank Ashland distance of 1 1/16 miles.

“We just decided to give her the time off after the Saratoga race,” Cox said of Interstatedaydream, who ran second in the Adirondack (G2) in her second career start. “There was no big reason; just wanted to let her grow.”

Interstatedaydream returned to training in January over Keeneland’s all-weather training track before heading to Oaklawn.

The Central Bank Ashland offers 170 points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first- through fourth-place finishers toward qualification to the May 6, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) that is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.

Cox and Flurry teamed to win the 2020 Oaks with Shedaresthedevil.

WALSH SENDS THE LIR JET (IRE) AND PREVALENCE AFTER SATURDAY STAKES GLORY

Trainer Brendan Walsh had a day for the ages last Saturday at Gulfstream Park when he won three stakes.

This Saturday, he will attempt to score a training double when he saddles The Lir Jet (IRE) in the 26th running of the $350,000 Shakertown (G2) and Prevalence in the 35th running of the Commonwealth (G3).

In the 5½-furlong Shakertown, Qatar Racing and RacehorseClub’s The Lir Jet will face off with two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal, a horse he defeated two summers ago at Royal Ascot in England in the Group 2 Norfolk. The Lir Jet joined Walsh’s barn last summer and won the Franklin-Simpson (G2) at Kentucky Downs in September in his most recent start.

“We gave him the winter off,” Walsh said. “I wanted to go to Dubai with him but he didn’t get invited, which surprised me because he’s a two-time Grade 2 winner.”

Tyler Gaffalione will be aboard Saturday and break from post six.

“He ran a big one for us the first time out, and hopefully he will do it again,” Walsh said.

Godolphin’s Prevalence will be making his third start since coming off a nine-month layoff following an eighth-place finish in the Pat Day Mile (G2) Presented by LG&E and KU on Kentucky Derby Day last year.

In the 7-furlong Commonwealth, Prevalence will break from post 10 under Gaffalione.

Prevalence won his first two starts last year before finishing sixth in the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino. Since that outing, Prevalence has been running one-turn races.

“Last year, we had to try to stretch him out and that didn’t work out,” Walsh said of Prevalence, who had no works for six months following the Pat Day Mile. “He’s come back great.”

BRINKMAN HOPES THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM FOR CILLA AT KEENELAND

Louisiana-bred Cilla ventured into the deep waters of graded stakes company at Keeneland twice in 2021, finishing sixth in the Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select in April and third in the Lexus Raven Run (G2) in October.

Bred by owner P. Dale Ladner and trainer Brett Brinkman, Cilla is back in town for Saturday’s $500,000 Madison (G1). Unlike last year, Cilla arrived at Keeneland early enough to work a half-mile in :48.40 last Saturday, the 12th fastest of 72 at the distance.

“In hindsight, I see where a work over the surface, especially in April, can be beneficial,” Brinkman said.

Winner of the Prioress (G2) last summer at Saratoga, the 4-year-old daughter of California Chrome has won her only two starts on less than a fast track by a combined 11½ lengths.

“She has shown she can handle off going, but so does Kimari,” Brinkman said, referring to the defending Madison champion.

Cilla will break from post one under Brian Hernandez Jr.

A daylight winner of two 5-furlong sprints at Delta Downs this year, Cilla will be making a big jump Saturday in the Madison.

“As breeder and owner, we have (most of the) family,” Brinkman said. “So shooting for a Grade 1, if we can be lucky enough to be successful, would make that family more valuable and we need to see if we belong.”

That family includes Cilla’s older Grade 2-placed half-sister, Club Car, who is entered in the Madison for owners Mike and K.K. Ball and trainer Ben Colebrook. Ladner and Brinkman also bred the 6-year-old Club Car, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Malibu Moon.

Out of multiple stakes winner Sittin At the Bar, by Into Mischief, Club Car and Cilla both are Keeneland sales graduates. Mike Ball purchased Club Car for $120,000 at the 2017 September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Denali Stud, agent.

Cilla was offered at the 2019 Horses of All Ages Sale by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

TRAINERS DISCUSS WEEKEND STAKES RUNNERS

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach interviewed several trainers with horses competing during opening weekend of the Spring Meet:

Rusty Arnold on Gear Jockey in Saturday’s Shakertown (G2).

Bret Calhoun on Tejano Twist in Friday’s Lafayette.

Graham Motion on Sy Dog in Friday’s Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) and Ouraika (FR) and Spendarella in Saturday’s Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.

Mark Casse on Credibility and Coinage in the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania; Golden Glider and Volcanic in Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) in the Shakertown.

“KEENELAND LOOK AHEAD” HANDICAPPING PROGRAM DEBUTS TONIGHT

For a handicapping preview of Friday’s card on opening day of the Keeneland Spring Meet, tune into the first edition of “Keeneland Look Ahead” tonight at 8:30 p.m. on Keeneland’s Twitter feed (@keenelandracing) and YouTube channel.

“Keeneland Look Ahead” is a nightly handicapping preview of the next day’s racing action, produced by Horse Player NOW and hosted by Jeremy Plonk. Now in his 28th meet as a Keeneland.com contributor, Plonk will provide strategy into how the next card can be approached, while spotlighting key plays and potentially profitable wagers like the Keeneland Turf Pick 3 – using many of the free assets available to all horseplayers at Keeneland.com.

“Keeneland Look Ahead” will broadcast live at 8:30 p.m. on the evening prior to all race cards – and be available on-demand thereafter – on Keeneland and Horse Player NOW’s social media channels.

KEENELAND STAKES INCLUDED IN SATURDAY’S CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5

The New York Racing Association will host an all-graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, featuring racing from Aqueduct and Keeneland.

All times ET.

Leg A: Keeneland – Race 8, Shakertown (G2) (post time 4:30 p.m.)

Leg B: Aqueduct – Race 8, Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino (4:45 p.m.)

Leg C: Keeneland – Race 9, Toyota Blue Grass (G1) (5:10 p.m.)

Leg D: Aqueduct – Race 9, Carter (G1) Presented by NYRA Bets (5:21 p.m.)

Leg E: Aqueduct – Race 10, Gazelle (G3) (5:55 p.m.)

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are available at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

GALLOPING OUT

Dream Shake, whose lone Kentucky racing appearance came last year on Derby Day at Churchill Downs, where he came up a head short of eventual champion Jackie’s Warrior in the Pat Day Mile (G2) Presented by LG&E and KU, returns to the races Sunday afternoon in a 6-furlong allowance sprint.

“This will be his first race back,” trainer Peter Eurton said of Dream Shake, who has not started since mid-August at Del Mar. “From here, go on over to Churchill and we know he likes Churchill Downs.”

Eurton, who has 10 stalls here, said he plans to be at Keeneland all meet except for a couple of trips back to his home base at Santa Anita.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR APRIL 15-16 STAKES

According to Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare, here are the prospective fields for the April 15 and 16 stakes:

April 15 race. Entries taken Sunday.

$600,000 MAKER’S MARK MILE (G1) – Atone (trainer Mike Maker), Beyond Brilliant (John Shirreffs), In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo), Ivar (BRZ) (Lobo), Set Piece (GB) (Brad Cox), Somelikeithotbrown (Maker).

April 16 races. Entries taken Wednesday.

$500,000 JENNY WILEY (G1) – Abscond (Eddie Kenneally), Navratilova (Rusty Arnold). Possible: Alms (Mike Stidham).

$400,000 STONESTREET LEXINGTON (G3) – Bye Bye Bobby (Todd Fincher), Strava (Dallas Stewart). Possible: Call Me Midnight (Keith Desormeaux), Dash Attack (Kenny McPeek), The Skipper Too (John Ortiz).

$200,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (L) – Ambassador Luna (Ben Colebrook), Campanelle (IRE) (Wesley Ward), Change of Control (Michelle Lovell), Headline Hunter (Jose D’Angelo), Hear My Prayer (Vladimir Cerin). Possible: Caravel (Brad Cox).

SPRING MEET OPENING WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Visit keeneland.com/tours for availability and to purchase.

Friday, April 8 – Opening day

College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End. Full-time college students can enjoy a day at the races and the chance to win scholarships and prize packages provided by local businesses. Any student who pre-registers is eligible to win one of ten $2,000 scholarships provided by Keeneland and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Students present at Keeneland that day can win one of two $10,000 scholarships provided by Lane’s End. Pre-register online at www.Keeneland.com/csd. Admission is free with a college ID.

Saturday, April 9

Sunrise Trackside. This morning program is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Children’s activities, located on the first-floor Grandstand from 8-10 a.m., include a meet and greet with Keeneland’s mascot, Buckles, along with face painting, games and more. Fans can enjoy coffee and donuts at Clockers Corner while watching horses train. Mini tours are available at the Welcome Stand in the Paddock.

Jockey Autograph Signing (rescheduled to Friday, April 15).

NBC coverage of the Toyota Blue Grass. NBC will televise the Toyota Blue Grass along with the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino from Aqueduct and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) from 4:30-6 p.m. The Toyota Blue Grass is the ninth race with a 5:10 p.m. post.

Sunday, April 10

Keeneland Kids Club Family Day Presented by Kentucky Children’s Hospital. The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for Keeneland fans 12 and younger. Kids Club members and their families are invited to enjoy this special day at the races by receiving free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 4 p.m.

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Click here for Keeneland’s 2022 Media Guide.