Keeneland Barn Notes

By Amy Owens —-

SUNDAY, OCT. 13

CHOP CHOP, ATOMIC BLONDE (GER) HEADLINE
ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER FIELD OF 12

Selective LLC’s Chop Chop and West Point Thoroughbreds, trainer Christophe Clement and Winters Equine’s Atomic Blonde (GER) – the 1-2 finishers from last spring’s Bewitch (G3) here – headline a field of 12 fillies and mares and two also-eligibles entered Sunday for the 33rd running of the $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3).

Contested at 1½ miles on the turf on Sunday, Oct. 20, the Rood & Riddle Dowager will go as the eighth race on the nine-race program with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time.

Trained by Brad Cox, Chop Chop will be attempting to become the third runner to sweep the Bewitch and Rood & Riddle Dowager in the same year. The others to do it were Kitten’s Point in 2015 and Upperline in 2012. Luan Machado has the mount from post 7.

Atomic Blonde, who will be facing Chop Chop for the fifth time this year, got the best of that rival in the Keertana (L) at Churchill Downs in May but finished behind her in the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) and Glens Falls (G2). Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 11.

SHE FEELS PRETTY BRINGS HER A GAME
TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY DIXIANA

The morning after claiming her first Grade 1 win at Keeneland, trainer Cherie DeVaux used two words to describe the 6-length victory by Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana:

“Awesome … amazing.”

The addition of blinkers for She Feels Pretty amped up the hope of her connections for the 1⅛-mile race.

“We expected her to run a good race,” DeVaux said. “She was training well … she always trains well. She has a couple quirks, but adding the blinkers and (jockey) Johnny V (Velazquez) keeping her covered up made the difference.”

DeVaux ruled out a possible Breeders’ Cup run in three weeks but indicated the 2024 campaign for She Feels Pretty might not be done.

“This (the QE II) was the goal for the year, even at the start of the year,” DeVaux said. “The Breeders’ Cup would be too close, but maybe a race like the ($300,000) American Oaks (G1).”

The American Oaks, run at a mile and a quarter, is scheduled for Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Soprano (IRE) is scheduled to return to England on Tuesday, according to Charles Eddery, who has overseen the filly’s preparations at Keeneland for trainer George Boughey.

“She just bumped into a good one yesterday,” Eddery said of the runner-up. “George was able to watch the race and was delighted with the way she ran for her first time in North America.”

Soprano might return to the U.S. for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

“There will be a discussion later today with George and Harry (Herbert of Highclere), and it might be on the card to go (to the Breeders’ Cup),” Eddery said. “She normally runs every three weeks and takes to racing well.”

Plans are undetermined for third-place finisher Caitlinhergrtness.

“We were very proud of her effort,” trainer Kevin Attard said of the filly, who is owned by Siena Farm and WinStar Farm. “I’m going to have a discussion with Elliott (Walden of WinStar) and decide on that.”

DERBY STARTERS EPIC RIDE, WEST SARATOGA BACK IN ACTION
IN SATURDAY’S PERRYVILLE

Welch Racing’s Epic Ride and Harry Veruchi’s West Saratoga – both unplaced in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve – return to action here in Saturday’s $300,000 Perryville (G3). The 7-furlong Perryville for 3-year-olds attracted 14 entrants, including two on the also-eligible list.

Epic Ride, a graduate of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, established himself as a leading sophomore this year at Turfway Park, where he won the 1-mile Leonatus Stakes and was second in the John Battaglia Memorial (L) at 1 1/16th miles.

He then was third in Keeneland’s Toyota Blue Grass (G1) in April before running 14th in the Kentucky Derby.

“He came out of the Derby fantastic, and we gave him a little break,” trainer John Ennis said. “He’s bigger and stronger. He was a kid going into the Derby, and now he is a man. Physically, he has become a man, but mentally he has always been really solid. Very pleased to be starting him back in the Perryville. This is a salty race, but I would not swap my horse for anybody’s.”

Epic Ride enjoyed turnout time when out of training, and Ennis credits the crew at Martha Jane Mulholland’s Mulholland Springs in Lexington with giving him “fantastic” care.

“There was no problem bringing him back (into training),” Ennis said. “He’s a fresh horse now, and he has not missed a beat.”

Based at Keeneland’s The Thoroughbred Center, 15 miles northeast of Lexington, Epic Ride breezed 5 furlongs at Keeneland in :59.80 on Oct. 4. Ennis plans to bring him back this week for morning Paddock schooling.

West Saratoga, who was 12th in the Kentucky Derby, has been out of action since his fifth-place effort in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs at 1 1/16 miles on June 6. The September Sale graduate has two recent 5-furlong Keeneland breezes: 1:01.60 on Oct. 1 and 1:01.80 on Oct. 8.

Trained by Larry Demeritte, West Saratoga stamped himself as a Kentucky Derby contender when he was the runner-up in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway in March.

In the Perryville, West Saratoga and rider Julien Leparoux will leave from post 2, while Epic Ride and jockey Edgar Morales drew post 12. The stakes is the seventh of 10 races with a 4:12 p.m. ET post time.

FALL MEET SECOND WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS

Throughout the Fall Meet, special events and activities will continue Keeneland’s historic mission to support the Central Kentucky community and the Thoroughbred industry. They include:

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours: Click here for description, availability and to purchase tickets.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting)

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for tailgating on The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o’ War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland). Fans can watch the racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered.

The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the final race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For fans who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland again is partnering with RevelXP to offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. RevelXP will organize tailgates by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more. Click here for more details.

Sunday, Oct. 13

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 a special day at the races and will receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating when they present their membership cards at admission entrances. Children’s activities in the North Terrace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will include face painting, a sweet treat and activities with local community partners such as Amplify Horse Racing, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, LexArts and Eckert’s Orchard. Sign up for the Kids Club at Keeneland.com/kidsclub.