Keeneland Barn Notes — Saturday, April 18

Posted On 19 Apr 2026

By Amy Owens —-

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

The Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 24. First post every day is 1 p.m. ET.

Click here for Keeneland’s 2026 Media Guide.

Every race during the Spring Meet will be streamed live and at no charge
on Keeneland.com and broadcast live on FanDuel TV.

Complimentary digital programs with Equibase past performances
Powered by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF)
are available to download by clicking here.

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OTTINHO WORKS HALF-MILE IN :48.40 FOR POSSIBLE KENTUCKY DERBY RUN
KENTUCKY OAKS HOPEFUL BELLA BALLERINA CHURCHILL-BOUND AFTER 5-FURLONG BREEZE IN 1:00.20
BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE WINNER ALPINE PRINCESS KEEPS COX BARN ON A ROLL
THIRD WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS
SPRING MEET LEADERS

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OTTINHO WORKS HALF-MILE IN :48.40
FOR POSSIBLE KENTUCKY DERBY RUN

Three Chimneys Farm’s homebred Ottinho, runner-up in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 4, worked a half-mile in :48.40 in company over a fast track Saturday morning at Keeneland.

With Flavien Prat aboard for trainer Chad Brown, Ottinho worked outside of Praetor, a 4-year-old who ran third in last spring’s Stonestreet Lexington (G3) here.

Click here for a video of the work.

“It was a good maintenance work,” Prat said “We went a good clip. I think the blinkers have helped him a lot. I had a chance to breeze him before his first race (last fall). Now he is more polished with the blinkers.”

Prat, who has the mount for Brown on Emerging Market in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2, has eight victories in the Spring Meet to be tied for fourth after the first 10 days of the season.

He also has 17 second-place finishes with five on Friday, including the Baird Doubledogdare (G2) aboard favored Eunomia. “I had more seconds than a clock,” Prat said.

Ottinho remains under consideration for a possible start in the Kentucky Derby or waiting until the $2 million Preakness (G1) at Laurel on May 16.

“I got him in 48 and 2 and out in 1:01 and 1,” said Baldo Hernandez, Brown’s assistant who is overseeing the Keeneland string. “I am not sure when he is going over to Churchill Downs.”

KENTUCKY OAKS HOPEFUL BELLA BALLERINA CHURCHILL-BOUND
AFTER 5-FURLONG BREEZE IN 1:00.20

Godolphin’s homebred Bella Ballerina, who figures to be one of the leading players for the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1, completed the Keeneland phase of her preparation on Saturday by working 5 furlongs in company on a fast track in 1:00.20.

Click here for a video of the work.

With jockey Tyler Gaffalione up, Bella Ballerina started a couple lengths behind workmates Diamond Eyed Jack and Get Them Roses, cut the corner at the top of the stretch and finished a couple lengths clear of Diamond Eyed Jack. She galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:13.40.

“She will go to Churchill tomorrow,” trainer Brendan Walsh said of the half-sister to his 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner, Pretty Mischievous. “The plan is to do something with her (next) Friday or Saturday or maybe even Sunday depending on weather.”

A winner of three of four starts including the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill, Bella Ballerina rated behind her same two workmates last Saturday, April 11 in a 5-furlong work. Today, she cruised on past on the inside.

“It was designed that way,” Gaffalione said. “We’ve been trying to teach her to relax. She’s been doing great. She’s listening to all my cues, responding well. She’s a very talented filly, everything comes to her easily. You can probably see that in the replay of the workout, but I’m very happy with her. It was a nice routine maintenance work. Just let her come up the inside and she finished well. We’re very happy, and we’ll see how it goes into next week.”

Gaffalione was aboard for the work last week.

“She felt great. Her spirits were up,” Gaffalione said. “She’s got a ton of confidence within herself, and she’s happy. That’s the main thing coming into these races: just make sure their attitude and everything is clicking.”

Walsh is receiving all the right signals from Bella Ballerina.

“She relaxed well behind horses and coming inside rather than outside gave her something else to think about,” Walsh said. “She does things almost too easy. She looks great. We get another good week and a good work, then it is up to her.”

BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE WINNER ALPINE PRINCESS
KEEPS COX BARN ON A ROLL

Full of Run Racing II and Madaket Stable’s Alpine Princess capped a stellar three-day run for the Brad Cox barn when she posted a neck victory in the Baird Doubledogdare (G2) Friday afternoon.

The victory was the sixth from eight starters over the past three days for the Cox barn with two wins coming each day.

“You just move on to the next day and try to do it again,” said Trace Messina, who is overseeing the Keeneland string for Cox. “Alpine Princess is good this morning and probably will go back to Churchill Downs the next day or two.”

Cox has shared two Spring Meet training titles and won the past six Fall Meet titles outright. Going into Saturday’s races, he owned an 11-6 advantage over Wesley Ward and Rusty Arnold with entries in 17 races the final five days.

Mike Maker owns the Spring Meet training record of 25 victories established in 2013.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who had four victories Friday, rode Alpine Princess among Cox’s six winners. He opened an 18-11 lead over Luis Saez in the race for the Spring Meet’s leading rider. Irad has won two riding titles here: 2024 Spring and 2025 Fall.

Irad is riding at Oaklawn Park today but is to be here Sunday. He is named on mounts in 31 races over the final four days of the 15-day Keeneland season and is halfway to the Spring Meet record of 35 victories set in 2013 by Joel Rosario.

THIRD WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Click here for availability and to purchase.

Keeneland Library is presenting the free exhibit Raices: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing, which highlights 100 trailblazing Latino men and women whose contributions have shaped Thoroughbred racing and breeding from the late 1800s to today.

The Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enter Keeneland at Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.

Spring Meet

The Keeneland Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 30 minutes following the final race and on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On race days, Milliners Corner, Wagering Central and Finish Line locations will be open.

Saturday and Sunday

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). 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.

Saturday

The Racetracks of America Book Signing. The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century is an image-packed compendium of past and present U.S. race tracks with contributions by the top writers in Thoroughbred racing. Meet the book’s developers from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Keeneland Library and purchase a copy while supplies last. All proceeds from book sales at Keeneland will benefit the Keeneland Library Foundation. Book signing will take place outside The Keeneland Shop from noon to 4 p.m.

PDJF Telethon Presented by Lane’s End. Racing Hall of Fame riders, leading active jockeys and racing personalities will take part in the eighth annual fundraiser. Keeneland will hold a call center in the Limestone Café in the Sales Pavilion. The event will be broadcast on both FanDuel TV and America’s Day at the Races on the Fox Sports family of networks and be streamed on tvg.com. Fans can participate by calling 1 844 884-7353 from 12:30-6 p.m. or by donating directly at https://pdjf.org/donate/.

Sunday

Kids Club Family Day Presented by Golisano Children’s at UK. The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for Keeneland fans ages 12 and under. Children 12 and under receive free general admission (no ticket required); Kids Club members may reserve up to two complimentary general admission tickets for accompanying adults in advance of the event. Access to reserved grandstand seating in Sections A, B & C is also available. Children’s activities in the North Terrace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will include face painting, sweet treats and activities with such local community partners as Amplify Horse Racing, Golisano Children’s at UK, LexArts and The Salvation Army. Sign up for the Kids Club at Keeneland.com/kidsclub.

SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through April 17 (10 days of 15-day season)

Jockey

Starts

Wins

2nd

3rd

Purses

Irad Ortiz Jr.

$2,931,413

Luis Saez

$1,316,741