Some insights into tonight’s triskaidekaphobiac racing program.
1ST RACE – (4) BLADE SEELSTER did just last a week ago after tiring late in previous try. Just 1-for-8 in ‘18, but done better bottom-claimer work than these.
2ND RACE – (6) DRAGIN’ THE WAGON returns for first effort here since last November. Acquitted himself well when last seen here and can get out of gate.
4TH RACE – (5) INSPIRATION VIEW has us as groupie after 17-1 off-pace, ‘peeked’ win. Back for tag, again needs things to work for him, we can’t abandon.
7TH RACE – (3) NEWBORN SASSY had last week off after just faltering in good Matchmaker try. Has not raced poorly thrice, draws inside main females here.
9TH RACE – (4) DIAMOND COWBOY couldn’t hack it first-up into spiffy third quarter in latest. Hung in rather well and was claimed, remains at same level.
12TH RACE – (8) DELIGHTFUL DRAGON always has license at any non-adult table. Eight-ball against some series refugees, so may just go finale motions....
Mr Cub Wins Thursday’s Featured Morgan’s Ford Purse
Turf Stable’s Mr Cub shook clear from the field in midstretch and held off a late charge from Krampus to win the $78,000 Morgan’s Ford Purse for 4-year-olds and up by 1½ lengths before a crowd of 10,034 on a warm and windy Thursday afternoon. (Click here for a replay of the race.)
Trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Chris Landeros, Mr Cub covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:37.20.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Mr Cub added $46,800 to his bankroll that now totals $206,257 with a record of 11-3-2-1. Mr Cub is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Artie Schiller out of the Mineshaft mare Fine Line.
Mr Cub returned $15, $6.60 and $4.20. Krampus, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $3.40 and $2.60 with Keep Quiet (FR) finishing third under Jose Lezcano and paying $2.80 to show.
Racing resumes Friday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. Highlighting the card is the 30th running of the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) on the turf that is scheduled as the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:30 post time.
On Friday, Keeneland will offer a Pick 6 carryover of $17,579 and a Super High 5 carryover of $6,271.
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Fifty Five to make first start of year in Saturday’s Plenty of Grace
Todd Pletcher saddles three contenders in first running of Bridgetown
Peter Brant’s Fifty Five will make her 2018 debut after a nearly six-month layoff, headlining a group of five older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Plenty of Grace on Saturday on Aqueduct Racetrack’s inner turf.
Three graded or group stakes winners from the barn of trainer Chad Brown and John Oxley’s La Coronel, a three-time graded stakes winner at Keeneland in as many starts, headline a field of 11 fillies and mares entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 30th running of the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1).
The Coolmore Jenny Wiley, run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, will go as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program with a 6:12 p.m. ET post time. First post time Saturday is 1:05 p.m.
Brown, who won the Jenny Wiley in 2015 with Ball Dancing, will send out Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith’s Fourstar Crook, Martin Schwartz’s Off Limits (IRE) and Peter Brant’s Sistercharlie (IRE).
Fourstar Crook comes into Saturday’s race off a victory in the Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs March 10 in which she defeated La Coronel. Javier Castellano has the mount and will break from post position 11.
Off Limits won the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar to close her 2017 campaign and opened 2018 with a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the Hillsborough when she was beaten by only 1½ lengths. Joel Rosario has the mount on Off Limits and will break from post position three.
Sistercharlie, a Group 3 winner last year in France, finished second in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) in July in her most recent start that also serves as her lone U.S. race. John Velazquez has the mount on Sistercharlie and will break from post position seven.
La Coronel, trained by Mark Casse, won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) as a...
Monticello picks for our IdaBet players for Thursday, April 12th
1ST RACE: 1-5-3-4
2ND RACE: 6-1-7-4
3RD RACE: 3-7-6-2
4TH RACE: 4-2-1-8
5TH RACE: 5-2-1-6
6TH RACE: 3-6-5-1
7TH RACE: 4-6-8-1
8TH RACE: 8-3-4-2
9TH RACE: 3-7-1-6
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Data provided by Equibase
