We are excited to share this year in our Player News Blog, Keeneland Barn Notes for our IdaBet.com players! Enjoy…and thanks for choosing IdaBet.com!
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet opens Friday, April 8, and runs through Friday, April 29.
First post is 1:05 p.m. ET except April 9 and April 16 when the first post is 12:35 p.m.
- AMERICAN DUBAI WORKS FIVE FURLONGS FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS
- TOP SPRINTERS WORK TOWARD NEXT SATURDAY’S COMMONWEALTH
- BREEDERS’ CUP WINNERS TEPIN, CATCH A GLIMPSE AMONG SECOND WEEK STAKES NOMINEES
- PROBABLE OPENING WEEKEND STAKES FIELDS
- KEENELAND KIDS CLUB SPREADS GOOD WILL AT EASTER EGG HUNT
AMERICAN DUBAI WORKS FIVE FURLONGS FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS
Richard Keith’s American Dubai put in his final major work in preparation for next Saturday’s 92nd running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) by working five furlongs in 1:01.40 over a fast track after the Saturday morning renovation break.
With exercise rider Antioco Murgia up, American Dubai was timed in :36.40 for the first three furlongs by Keeneland clockers and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.
“It was about what we wanted for his first time over a new surface,” trainer Rodney Richards said. “The gallop-out was nice and the best part of it.”
After breaking his maiden at first asking last fall at Churchill Downs, American Dubai wintered at Oaklawn Park, where he ran three times. He finished 13th in his most recent start in the Rebel (G2).
“I just felt that this track favored his style better than Oaklawn Park and decided to give it a shot,” Richards said. “He will just have long gallops up to the race and may have one fast gallop.”
Richards, who will be seeking his initial graded stakes victory in the Toyota Blue Grass, will make a quick return trip to Oaklawn over the weekend and plans to return to Lexington midweek.
“This means the world to us as we are trying to get to the next level,” Richards said. “I think he had a little bug for the Rebel, but he was good three or four days after that.”
Click here for a Periscope video of the post-work interview with Richards.
TOP SPRINTERS WORK TOWARD NEXT SATURDAY’S COMMONWEALTH
Jerry Durant’s Holy Boss and Katherine Ball’s Limousine Liberal, who finished fourth and 11th, respectively, behind champion Runhappy in last fall’s TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), both worked before the break Saturday morning.
Both 4-year-olds are nominated to next Saturday’s 30th running of the $250,000 Commonwealth (G3) at seven furlongs in what would mark their 2016 debuts.
A three-time stakes winner including a victory in the Amsterdam (G2), Holy Boss covered five furlongs in 1:00.40. Holy Boss is trained by Steve Asmussen.
Limousine Liberal, who finished second to Runhappy in the NYRA.com King’s Bishop (G1) and two lengths ahead of Holy Boss in that race, worked a half-mile in :46.60 with an opening quarter in :23.60 and out five furlongs in 1:00.20.
“It was a little fast, but good horses work fast,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “I think we are going to run (in the Commonwealth).”
BREEDERS’ CUP WINNERS TEPIN, CATCH A GLIMPSE
AMONG SECOND WEEK STAKES NOMINEES
Trainer Mark Casse’s two Breeders’ Cup winners from here last fall, Tepin (Mile-G1) and Catch a Glimpse (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1), are among the marquee names nominated to the seven stakes that will highlight the second week of racing at Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet.
Robert Masterson’s Tepin tops the list of 29 fillies and mares nominated to the 28th running of the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf on Saturday, April 16.
Undefeated in three starts at Keeneland, Tepin won the First Lady (G1) by seven lengths here last fall before beating males in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. She has won her past four races and seven of her past nine with two runner-up finishes.
Also included in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley nominations are defending champion Ball Dancing and Grade 1 winners Personal Diary and Photo Call (IRE).
Gary Barber, Michael Ambler and Windways Farm’s Catch a Glimpse is undefeated in four turf starts and opened 2016 with a victory in the Herecomesthebride (G3). She headlines a roster of 47 nominations for the 28th running of the $125,000 Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association to be run at a mile on the turf on Thursday, April 14.
The 28th running of the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1), to be contested Friday, April 15, attracted 33 nominations. Included in that roster are Grade 1 winners Force thePass (2015 Belmont Derby), Grand Arch (2015 Shadwell Turf Mile), Hootenanny (2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and What a View (2016 Frank E. Kilroe Mile).
The 35th running of the $150,000 Lexington (G3), the final points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in Kentucky, drew 81 nominations. Among those nominees for the 1 1/16-mile race on Saturday, April 16 is Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Swipe.
Also slated for April 16 is the 86th running of the $200,000 Ben Ali (G3) for older horses going
1 1/8 miles on the main track. The Ben Ali drew 46 nominations, including the likes of Grade 1 winners Noble Bird, Melatonin, Hard Aces and Majestic Harbor.
The 20th running of the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway at 5½ furlongs on the turf is the fourth stakes race slated for April 16. The grass test for fillies and mares drew 35 nominations, including Wesley Ward’s Shrinking Violet, who came within a nose of being a repeat winner of the Monrovia (G2) at Santa Anita on Jan. 3.
Completing the second week of racing will be the 31st running of the $150,000 Adena Springs Beaumont (G3), the final points race for 3-year-old fillies on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Run over the Beard Course of seven furlongs, 184 feet, the race drew 36 nominations, including Grade 1 winner Nickname and Grade 2 winners JustWicked and Lewis Bay.
PROBABLE OPENING WEEKEND STAKES FIELDS
Here is the list of probable entrants for opening weekend stakes:
$100,000 TRANSYLVANIA (G3) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT (entries taken Monday, race Friday) – Back Togetheragain, Camelot Kitten, Converge, J R’s Holiday, Shakhimat, Urban Bourbon.
$1 MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS (G1) (entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday, April 9) – American Dubai, Brody’s Cause, Donegal Moon, Hint of Roses, Laoban, Pinson, Star Hill, Twizz.
$500,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) (entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday, April 9) – Carina Mia, Cathryn Sophia, Rachel’s Valentina, Weep No More.
$300,000 MADISON (G1) (entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday, April 9) – Birdatthewire, Fioretti, Sarah Sis, Spelling Again, Sunday Rules, Super Majesty, Thirteen Arrows, Wavell Avenue.
$200,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) (entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday, April 9) – American Sailor, Bye Bernie, Power Alert (AUS), Something Extra.
$250,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) (entries taken Tuesday, race Saturday, April 9) – Ami’s Flatter, Barbados, Departing, Holy Boss, Limousine Liberal, Salengo, Viva Majorca.
KEENELAND KIDS CLUB SPREADS GOOD WILL AT EASTER EGG HUNT
On a picture-perfect spring day in Central Kentucky on March 26, more than 1,500 children set their sights on finding 7,500 hidden eggs at the third Keeneland Kids Club Easter Egg Hunt while they also contributed to a local charity. The free event, held near the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center, asked participants to bring canned goods to benefit God’s Pantry, a Lexington food bank, and collected 855 pounds of food – equivalent to 700 meals.
The Keeneland Kids Club is the free Official Kids Club for Keeneland fans 12 and under. Members receive a personalized membership pass, birthday card from Buckles, discounts, invitations to exclusive Kids Club events and more. Additional information can be found here.
Sunday, April 17, is the date of Keeneland’s second Kids Club Day, which will give Kids Club members and their families free general admission and access to Grandstand seating for an afternoon at the races. Children’s activities, including face painting and crafts, will be offered in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m. That day, Keeneland will partner with the Salvation Army’s Lemon Aid fundraiser to benefit children at the Emergency Homeless Shelter in Lexington.
Since its inception 80 years ago, Keeneland has contributed millions of dollars, in addition to a variety of in-kind support, to charitable and equine-related programs in the areas of health and human services, education, arts and culture, animal welfare and historic preservation. Additionally, Keeneland hosts numerous walks, runs, fundraisers and other events that support many Central Kentucky organizations. In 2015, more than 20,000 participants took part in run/walks at Keeneland, raising $1.5 million for local chapters of the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, American Diabetes Association, Kentucky CancerLink and Cardinal Hill, among others.
