KEENELAND: Barn Notes — Saturday, Oct. 4

Posted On 05 Oct 2025

SATURDAY, OCT. 4 — FALL STARS SATURDAY

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet runs through Saturday, Oct. 25.
First race is at 1 p.m. ET. No racing Mondays and Tuesdays.

THORPEDO ANNA WILL HAVE EXTRA SPECIAL FANS ON SUNDAY
FIONN HEADS FIELD OF NINE FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY DIXIANA
DARLEY ALCIBIADES FIRST TWO FINISHERS HEADED TO BREEDERS’ CUP
IMAGINATIONTHELADY’S JESSAMINE PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES VICTORY CAPS THREE-WIN DAY FOR WALSH
NAKATOMI BREEDERS’ CUP-BOUND AGAIN AFTER STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX WIN
PROSPECTIVE FIELD FOR UPCOMING STAKES
OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

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THORPEDO ANNA WILL HAVE EXTRA SPECIAL FANS ON SUNDAY

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will have some extra special fans in the Keeneland crowd on Sunday when she goes to the post for the $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1). Her cheering section will include those who knew her well long before she became a champion because breeder and co-owner Judy Hicks is treating the crew from her Brookstone Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, to a day here.

“I’m 10 minutes down the road,” Hicks said Saturday morning after watching Thorpedo Anna train. “That’s where she was born and raised, and what’s special to me is that I’m going to bring all of my farmhands to watch. So we all as a group are going to wear Thorpedo Anna hats. I’m wanting them to experience maybe a little tiny piece of what I am, and I just feel so excited. They’ve only seen her on TV.”

Hicks said she sensed something special about the 4-year-old filly long before she won at Keeneland on Oct. 26, 2023, in her career debut after training here that summer.

“At the farm she was very independent, she was very strong, and I just liked her conformation and the strength of her hind end,” Hicks said. “I liked her attitude. Everyone says, ‘How do you feel?’ (about her success.) I’ve lost adjectives to describe how it is. I sort of just go with the flow. I go home and take care of my horses, walk with my dogs and come to the races. I’m so proud to be a part of it and to have created it — or she created it herself.”

Trainer Kenny McPeek said Thorpedo Anna might go to the track for light exercise early on Sunday or stay in the barn to await the race with a 5:16 p.m. post time.

The Juddmonte Spinster, which will be run for the 70th time, is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” series that offers a guaranteed starting spot and travel expenses to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 1. Thorpedo Anna won last year’s Distaff at Del Mar en route to Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly.

FIONN HEADS FIELD OF NINE FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY DIXIANA

George Messina and Michael Lee’s Fionn, riding a three-race win streak, which includes scores in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) and the Dueling Grounds Oaks (G3), heads a field of nine fillies entered Saturday for the 42nd running of the $800,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday, Oct. 11.

Trained by Brad Cox, Fionn has won six of eight races. In her lone Keeneland appearance, she was third this spring in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.

The one European-based entrant in the field is Al Shaqab Racing’s Simmering (GB), who scratched out of this afternoon’s First Lady (G1) against older fillies and mares to run in this spot.

The field for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana, with trainers, riders and weights from the rail out, is:

Post

Horse

Trainer

Jockey

Weight

Lush Lips (GB)

Brendan Walsh

Tyler Gaffalione

121 lbs.

Laurelin (IRE)

Graham Motion

Kendrick Carmouche

121

Simmering (GB)

Ollie Sangster

Luis Saez

121

Daisy Flyer

Rusty Arnold

Florent Geroux

121

Opulent Restraint (IRE)

Chad Brown

Joel Rosario

121

Candy Quest

Mark Casse

Jose Ortiz

121

Destino d’Oro

Brad Cox

Irad Ortiz Jr.

121

Will Then

Jonathan Thomas

Frankie Dettori

121

Fionn

Brad Cox

Flavien Prat

121

DARLEY ALCIBIADES FIRST TWO FINISHERS HEADED TO BREEDERS’ CUP

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup plans became a bit more clear Friday with an elevated victory by Spendthrift Farm’s Tommy Jo in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) and a third-place finish by Repole Stable’s Time to Dream in the Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales.

“Both got a lot out of their races yesterday,” said Pletcher, who extended his record for Keeneland stakes victories to 73.

“Tommy Jo: It was pretty clear she got knocked off stride (by Percy’s Bar in the stretch). She came out of the race well. Time to Dream had an unlucky trip. She was bottled up and when she finally got out she ran out of real estate.”

Tommy Jo finished 2¾ lengths behind Percy’s Bar in the Darley Alcibiades, and Time to Dream came up a length and a nose shy of Imaginationthelady.

Pletcher has three definite candidates for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 1 in Fierceness, Mindframe and Antiquarian with a possible fourth in Locked.

“All of the Classic horses are at Saratoga, and we will know a lot more after this weekend about consolidating in one place,” Pletcher said. “They will fly out to Del Mar on Oct. 26.”

This afternoon at Keeneland, Pletcher will send out Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), a “Win and You’re In” race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Oct. 31. On Sunday, he has Repole Stable’s Final Score in the Castle & Key Bourbon (G2), a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Oct. 31.

Hat Creek Racing’s Percy’s Bar is scheduled to join Tommy Jo in the Juvenile Fillies starting gate.

“She came back great,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “She thinks she won, so we didn’t tell her any different.”

Colebook added: “We’ll see how she is doing and check the flight availability to decide when to ship to Del Mar. Probably as late as possible.”

IMAGINATIONTHELADY’S JESSAMINE PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES VICTORY CAPS THREE-WIN DAY FOR WALSH

The 10-1 upset victory in Friday’s Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales by Mark Dobbin’s Imaginationthelady capped a three-win day for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“I had another three-win day a few years ago on the day Prevalence won the Commonwealth (G3) (on April 9, 2022),” said Walsh, whose other wins Saturday came with Turner’s Charm in the third and Raiding Party (IRE) in the 10th.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Imaginationthelady hit the front at the eighth pole and went on to win by a length.

“Frankie gave her a good ride and she learned a lot more from this than when she won first out at Kentucky Downs and went right to the front,” Walsh said.

The stakes victory was the first for Dobbin at Keeneland.

“He’s Irish and based in New York,” Walsh said. “He sent me a filly a few years ago named Storm Miami (IRE), who runs Monday at Presque Isle Downs, and then he sent me American Sonja (GB), who runs for the second time for me in the Waya (G3) tomorrow in New York.”

Imaginationthelady was a $300,000 Keeneland Yearling September Sale purchase last year.

“John McCormick bought her and we got her in the spring,” Walsh said. “She looks like a pretty good filly.”

That “pretty good filly” punched her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Victory in the Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales earned her a fees-paid berth into the John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Walsh said that if all goes well the next three weeks, Imaginationthelady would head to Southern California on Oct. 27.

NAKATOMI BREEDERS’ CUP-BOUND AGAIN
AFTER STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX WIN

“He tried so hard,” trainer Wesley Ward said Saturday morning about Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitri Hay’s Nakatomi, who scored a neck victory in Friday’s $400,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) in his third start in the race.

With the victory, the 6-year-old earned a third start in the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Nakatomi was third in the race in 2023 and sixth last year.

Nakatomi made his career debut in April 2021 at Keeneland, winning a maiden special weight race by 2¼ lengths. He has made 24 starts, winning here in the 2021 Bowman Mill Stakes. In April, the gelding was second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) Sponsored by Nakheel in the United Arab Emirates in April.

Ward was pleased with Friday’s performance, which came in Nakatomi’s seventh Keeneland start.

“As he’s getting older, you just want to keep him, hopefully, at the same level and that usually never happens,” Ward said. “Very, very few times do you get a horse like him that just keeps going on.

“He’s like (20-year NFL quarterback) Brett Favre. He keeps going the older he gets,” Ward added. “We don’t run him very many times a year. I think that’s what keeps him excited when he comes over (for the race). He only has a few starts, so that’s contributing to him wanting to do it.”

When not at Ward’s Keeneland base, Nakatomi is turned out at Hunter Valley Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where he receives special treatment.

“After the Breeders’ Cup, he’ll go to the farm and (manager) Fergus Galvin’s little girl rides him,” Ward said. “She gives him carrots and rides him bareback. When he gets over to the farm, he switches off. He’s like a pony.”

Ward said Nakatomi likely will ship to Del Mar a week before the race.

PROSPECTIVE FIELD FOR UPCOMING STAKES

$400,000 FRANKLIN (G2) (Entries taken Sunday; race Sunday, Oct. 12) – Future Is Now (trainer Mike Trombetta), In Our Time (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Luna Louska (Gustavo Delgado), Pipsy (IRE) (Will Walden), Rileys Redemption (Mike Maker), Saturday Flirt (Wesley Ward), Shoot It True (Ward), Time to Dazzle (Mark Casse).

OPENING WEEKEND 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.

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 Keeneland 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 for those with track admission tickets.

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 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

Celebrating 250Lex. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the new East Plaza will host these activities to celebrate Lexington’s 250th birthday: Enjoy live music from Ben Sollee and his band; observe live painting by local artist Wylie Caudill; enter to win “The Perfect Day in Lexington” and play trivia for Lexington-themed prizes. Exclusive cocktails will be available from the Castle & Key trailer near the Paddock or at any full-service bar in the Grandstand. Keeneland’s 10-race card includes the Juddmonte Spinster (G1), the Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) and the Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select.

Check out this additional event

Milliners Corner near The Keeneland Shop (by the South Entrance) will feature Christine A. Moore Millinery all weekend