Keeneland Barn Notes — Sunday, April 9

By Amy Owens —-

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Keeneland is closed for racing today. Racing resumes Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET.

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TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER TAPIT TRICE TO HEAD TO CHURCHILL DOWNS NEXT SUNDAY
GODOLPHIN RUNNERS ARRIVE FOR GRADE 1 CHALLENGES
GALLOPING OUT
SUNDAY WORK TAB

TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER TAPIT TRICE TO HEAD
TO CHURCHILL DOWNS NEXT SUNDAY

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice, gritty winner of Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1), will head to Churchill Downs next Sunday for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Amelia Green, who is overseeing Pletcher’s Keeneland string, said Tapit Trice would be joined at Churchill the following day by Pletcher’s two other Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve hopefuls, Eclipse Award winner Forte, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, and Spendthrift Farm’s Kingsbarns, who will be shipping next Sunday from Palm Beach Downs in South Florida.

Pletcher, who won his record fourth Toyota Blue Grass on Saturday, plans to stay in Louisville through the Derby after all his Derby runners arrive next week.

Tapit Trice prevailed Saturday by a neck over Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Verifying.

“He ran great,” said Blake Cox, assistant to his father, Brad, of Verifying’s first start in six weeks. “He’s very good this morning and will head to Churchill on Monday.”

Rodeo Creek Racing’s Blazing Sevens, who secured a Derby berth by finishing third in the Toyota Blue Grass for trainer Chad Brown, likely will stay at Keeneland for a couple weeks.

“We may do like we did with (Toyota Blue Grass winner) Zandon last year and have a work here and then ship to Churchill,” said Baldo Hernandez, assistant to Brown.

R. T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine’s Sun Thunder, who finished fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass, returned to Churchill Saturday night.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said plans for the Kentucky Derby are undecided. Sun Thunder has compiled 54 points on the Road to the Derby and has secured a spot in the starting gate should his connections decide to run.

Andrew and Rania Warren’s Raise Cain rallied to finish fifth, a neck behind Sun Thunder.

“We will train up to the Derby at Keeneland and most likely will give the Derby a shot,” trainer Ben Colebrook said of Raise Cain, who has secured a spot in the Derby starting gate.

GODOLPHIN RUNNERS ARRIVE FOR GRADE 1 CHALLENGES

Godolphin’s champion Modern Games (IRE) and With The Moonlight (IRE) wasted no time getting familiar with their new surroundings at Keeneland by training on the main track shortly after it opened at 5:30 this morning.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the two horses had trained at Churchill Downs Saturday morning and then vanned to Keeneland Saturday afternoon, according to Chris Connett, the head traveling lad.

Modern Games, winner of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF here last fall, was ridden by Lorna Ford, while With The Moonlight, winner of the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3) last summer and a two-time Group 2 winner this year in Dubai, had Graham Colbert aboard.

Modern Games is expected to start in Friday’s 35th running of the $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1), and With The Moonlight is pointed toward Saturday’s 35th running of the $600,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

GALLOPING OUT

First Row Partners and Team Hanley’s champion Goodnight Olive emerged from her comeback victory in Saturday’s Madison (G1) in good order with plans to be determined, said Baldo Hernandez, assistant to trainer Chad Brown. …

The 1-2 finishers in Saturday’s Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, D. J. Stable, Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Papilio (IRE) and Repole Stable and Town and Country Racing’s Cairo Consort, might be headed for a rematch in the $500,000 Edgewood (G2) Presented by Forcht Bank at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Allen Hardy, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, said Papilio could ship to Churchill in the coming days with the Edgewood as a possible next start. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Cairo Consort was probable for the Edgewood. …

Qater Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables’ Caravel, who made a successful return to the races with a victory in the Shakertown (G2) on Saturday, likely will head to Churchill Downs with a next start to be determined, according to Blake Cox, assistant to his father Brad.

SUNDAY WORK TAB

WSS Racing’s multiple graded stakes-placed Barber Road, nominated to the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3) to be run April 22, worked a half-mile in company in :48.60 for trainer John Ortiz over a fast track. Another Ben Ali nominee, Lothenbach Stables’ Happy American, worked 5 furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Neil Pessin. Trinity Farm’s Red Knight, winner of the 2020 Sycamore (G3) and nominated to the $350,000 Elkhorn (G2), worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer Mike Maker. Mark Grier’s Opus Forty Two, considered a possible entrant in next Sunday’s $400,000 Beaumont (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select, worked a half-mile in :49 for trainer Arnaud Delacour.

Coady Photography

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