Opening Day at Keeneland Features Three Breeders’ Cup Preps

The second weekend of October in the Bluegrass brings the fall season in full force this year. Friday features a full slate of 10 races on Keeneland’s opening day, followed by the classic Lexington double-header on Saturday – thoroughbred racing at Keeneland in the afternoon followed by a 7:30pm kickoff at Kroger Field where the Kentucky football team will host the South Carolina Gamecocks. Hopefully Claiborne Farm stallion War of Will’s top endorser can refrain from giving the game away three times in the final three minutes this week. 

The racing at Keeneland will be top notch as the central Kentucky track hosts the Breeders’ Cup the first weekend of November.  Many of the top racing outfits across the country will want to get their prospects a prep over the course, and Keeneland will happily oblige with 11 total stakes races and nine “Win and You’re In” automatic Breeders’ Cup berths over Fall Stars weekend.  Opening day action commences with three graded stakes, all of which garner a fees paid entry to the Breeders’ Cup for the winner.  Here’s a preview of the Friday featured Win and You’re In events:

Race 7 – Grade 2 Phoenix, Breeders’ Cup Sprint Qualifier

Special Reserve will likely go favored in this spot as the defending champion. He entered the 2021 renewal off three straight triple digit Beyer performances and a narrow defeat in the grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga. His form this season is not quite as flattering. Following a so-so 4th place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the son of Midshipman got an extended vacation. He resurfaced over a muddy track at Laurel Park in July where he finished a dismal 7th of 8 in the De Francis Dash. Trainer Mike Maker then ran him back in 3 weeks over a sloppy surface at Mountaineer where he took care of business with a 3 ½ length victory over stake rivals, including the re-opposing Baytown Bear. The superior speed figures the gelding posted last year all came over fast surfaces, so perhaps the sub-par numbers in two outings this summer can be forgiven, and it’s certainly possible Special Reserve is ready to fire his best shot in his third start of the year. 

Though they came in an optional claimer at Saratoga and an overnight stake at Pimlico, Sibelius has turned in a couple triple digit Beyers of his own in his most recent outings. Expect Junior Alvarado to press the pace along with Tyler Gaffalione (aboard Special Reserve). The 4-year old son of Not This Time appears to be improving at just the right time of year. If those two go after each other too hard too early, Necker Island looks to be the most likely benefactor.

Race 8 – Grade 2 Jessamine, BC Juvenile Fillies Turf Qualifier

Towhead will likely vie for favoritism on the basis of her narrow runner-up finish in the half-million dollar stake at Kentucky Downs last month.  She’ll have her work cut out for her breaking from the far outside with several others looking to be forwardly placed. 

Recognize, Dulcia, and Blind Spot are all expected to be engaged early. Bling made a big leap forward in her second start, and first on grass, breaking her maiden in a sprint at the pea patch by almost four lengths. Progeny of American Pharoah have excelled in turf routes, and she seems a decent bet for further improvement with the addition of a second turn. 

Promise of Hope and Happy Gal were separated by a mere neck when rounding out the trifecta in a big money allowance affair at Kentucky Downs last month. Happy Gal was moving faster of the two late under Joel Rosario, but Promise of Hope’s pedigree suggests she might be the filly better suited to route racing. Delight has kept some pretty respectable company in her three outings to date, but she’ll no doubt find this group tougher than the one she defeated in Delaware at the end of August. 

Race 9 – Grade 1 Alcibiades, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

A bettor’s delight awaits horse players in the feature spot on Keeneland’s opening day card – a wide open renewal of the Alcibiades with a full field of 14 juvenile fillies.  Young horses often improve dramatically in their second and third starts at this point in their freshman seasons – making the task of handicapping quite a formidable challenge. 

The pace scenario appears somewhat tepid with nearly half the field stretching around a second turn for the first time. Wonder Wheel is a good bet to show some early speed breaking from the rail under Tyler Gaffalione. She won the ¾ mile Debutante at Churchill in gate-to-wire fashion and was again close to the pace for her runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga. Raging Sea graduated at first asking in a 7-furlong maiden test at the Spa. The Curlin filly was among the first flight that day and may well be prominent early again here. 

Chop Chop is 2-for-2 with both of her starts coming over grass, where she most recently defeated Towhead at Kentucky Downs. Pay close attention to how that one performs in the Jessamine to get a line on this daughter of City of Light’s form. She handled both firm and yielding courses during her time in western Kentucky, and Brad Cox strikes at a 32% clip with the surface change. It’s likely enough that the turf starts were merely a way to get her around two turns, and dirt may indeed be her preferred surface. 

Fun and Feisty found the wire 3 ½ lengths clear of 11 others in her first try around two turns, and she comes back in three weeks off that Grade 3 Pocahontas victory at Churchill. Will her late running style be compromised by the short run to the wire? 

Infinite Diamond offers some intrigue here as well. She was just 3 lengths behind AndTellMeNolies, subsequent winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, in her second start. The daughter of Bee Jersey broke her maiden in her next outing, also her first around two turns, by 14 ½ lengths in gate-to-wire fashion. She appears to have enough early lick to be forwardly placed under Florent Geroux and could certainly light up the tote board if she takes another step forward. 

Kaling fired a morning bullet prior to heading south from Saratoga, indicating she remains in fine fettle following her 3rd place effort in the Spinaway. Johnny V picks up the mount for Todd Pletcher, and this daughter of Practical Joke certainly rates a solid chance in her two-turn debut.