The Keeneland Spring Meet

[TJ]

With a return to a dirt racing surface, Keeneland was quickly handed the BC event. Top horseman no longer have to "try" their best dirt horses on synthetic and hope they will handle it. Now they flock to this 16 day race meet to showcase their best horses. Outside of Saratoga, this is probably as good as it gets. Opening day is Friday (4/8) and will operate a Wednesday through Sunday race week with closing day Friday 4/29. Big fields and quality racing is always a treat to handicap:>) Here's a look at some of the racing action, even allowance races bring out stars. TJ

Cree this one's for you:>) The 2016 return of Shakhimat on Friday's opener:

9th RACE. (C9) Post 5:30PM The 28th Running of Stakes
The Transylvania Presented by Keeneland Select (Grade III)
PURSE $100,000 Keeneland Course (8 1/2 Furlongs On The Turf)
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
1 INSPECTOR LYNLEY (L) '13 C 118 Geroux, F Janney, III, S and Phipps Stable McGaughey III, C
2 SHAKHIMAT (L) '13 C 118 Wilson, E RGH Bloodstock Inc. and Gale, Dan Attfield, R
3 PRIME TIME MAN (L) '13 C 118 Velazquez, J Zayat Stables, LLC Lukas, D
4 URBAN BOURBON (L) '13 C 118 Bravo, J Bourbon Lane Stable, Stinson, Michael C. and McMahon,
Michael J.Kenneally, E
5 J R 'S HOLIDAY (L) '13 C 123 Jaramillo, E J.R. Racing LLC (Roth, Jerry) Garoffalo, J
6 SORRYABOUTNOTHING (L) '13 C 118 Lanerie, C Fog City Stable, RAP Racing, ERJ Racing, LLC andKenney, Dave
O'Neill, D
7 CONVERGE (L) '13 C 123 Castellano, J Pompa Jr, P Brown, C
8 CATAPULT (L) '13 C 120 Leparoux, J Woodford Racing, LLC Brown, C
9 ONE MEAN MAN (L) '13 C 118 Torres, F L T B Inc and Ron Hillerich Racing Inc Flint, B

Click on Sorryaboutnothing: http://www.tlore.net/trainers/oneill/public/brisnet.cfm

On Saturday (Blue Grass Stakes Day) a small but select field of top 3YO fillies sans Songbird:>)
6th RACE. (C9) Post 3:28PM The 79th Running of Stakes
The Central Bank Ashland (Grade I)
PURSE $500,000 8 1/2 Furlongs
FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
1 WEEP NO MORE (L) '13 F 121 Lanerie, C Ashbrook Farm Arnold, II, G
2 BANREE (L) '13 F 121 Jimenez, A Dodson, M Ward, W
3 CATHRYN SOPHIA (L) '13 F 121 Castellano, J Cash Is King, LLC Servis, J
4 RACHEL'S VALENTINA (L) '13 F 121 Geroux, F Stonestreet Stables LLC Pletcher, T
5 CARINA MIA '13 F 121 Leparoux, J Three Chimneys Farm, LLC Mott, W

Click on Rachel's Valentina: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... mmary.html

Check out this field of top older fillies and mares:

9th RACE. (C8) Post 5:20PM The 15th Running of Stakes
The Madison (Grade I)
$300,000
PURSE $300,000 7 Furlongs
FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
1 CAVORTING (L) '12 F 118 Lezcano, J Stonestreet Stables LLC McLaughlin, K
2 SHEER DRAMA (L) '10 M 118 Bravo, J Queen, H Fawkes, D
3 WAVELL AVENUE (L) '11 M 123 Leparoux, J Dubb, M., Simon, D., Head of Plains Partners LLC and
Bethlehem Stables LLCBrown, C
4 SUNDAY RULES (L) '11 M 120 Maldonado, E Alexander, N D'Amato, P
5 BIRDATTHEWIRE (L) '12 F 123 Van Dyke, D Forum Racing IV Proctor, T
6 FIORETTI (L) '10 M 120 Doyle, S Two Hearts Farm, LLC and Don Janes Hamilton, Jr., A
7 DANCING HOUSE (L) '11 M 120 Saez, L Godolphin Racing, LLC, Lessee McLaughlin, K
8 CLOTHES FALL OFF (L) '12 F 120 Lanerie, C Cheyenne Stables LLC, Southern Equine Stable LLC
and Bell, GatewoodMcLaughlin, K
9 ENCHANTING LADY (L) '12 F 118 Garcia, M Kaleem Shah, Inc. Baffert, B
10 SUPER MAJESTY (L) '12 F 118 Solis, A LNJ Foxwoods Asmussen, S
11 THIRTEEN ARROWS (L) '11 M 118 Geroux, F Fox Hill Farms, Inc. Jones, J
12 STOPCHARGINGMARIA (L) '11 M 120 Castellano, J Town and Country Racing, LLC Pletcher, T
13 SPELLING AGAIN (L) '11 M 120 Bridgmohan, S Seajay Racing LLC Cox, B

Click on Cavorting: http://www.kiaranmclaughlinracing.com/t ... risnet.cfm

As mentioned even the Allowance races are outstanding, look at this field with top sprinter Limousine Liberal among the entries:

2nd RACE. (C5) Post 1:08PM The Threave Main Stud Allowance Optional Claiming $62,500
Julep Cup - Threave Main Stud - Tim Thornton & Meg T. Buckley
PURSE $64,000 (Includes $10,800 from KTDF) 6 1/2 Furlongs
FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $7,500 TWICE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES OR CLAIMING PRICE $62,500.
1 LIMOUSINE LIBERAL (L) '12 G 118 Saez, L Ball, K Colebrook, B
2 TWO WEEKS OFF (L) '12 C 118 Castellano, J Starlight Racing Pletcher, T
3 GREAT STUFF (L) '12 C 118 Hernandez, Jr, B Two Dimes Stable Montano, Sr, A
4 SALENGO (L) '12 C 120 Murrill, M Galloping Gator LLC Engler, J
5 NITE OF THE HUNTER (L) '12 G $62,500 120 Geroux, F Robertson, H Robertson, H
6 SONGSATIONAL (L) '11 H 118 Lezcano, J Fielding, J and Hertrich, III, F Mott, W
7 MR. FREUD (L) '10 G 123 Cox, A Rice, W Rice, W

Click on Two Weeks Off: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... mmary.html

[TJ]

The Transylvania:
Converge
Shakhimat
Catapult
J R 's Holiday

The Ashland:
Cathryn Sophia
Rachel's Valentina
Carina Mia

The Madison
Stopchargingmaria
Sheer Drama
Wavell Avenue
Sunday Rules

Allowance Race:
Limousine Liberal
Two Weeks Off
Songsational

[Cree]

TJ, you've stolen my picks...

Transylvania:
Converge
Shakhimat
JR's Holiday
One Mean Man

Ashland:
Cathryn Sophia
Carina Mia
Rachel's Valentina

Madison:
Dancing House
Stopchargingmaria
Birdatthewire
Sheer Drama

[madelyn]

Can't wait.. thinking of heading to Keeneland for live racing this Sunday. Anyone want to meet up?

[Aug27]

No love for Thirteen Arrows in the Madison?
Track and Distance winner, with one of the nation's hottest jocks in the irons and a perfect outside draw ... Competitive speed figures to boot (can run the par.) Working great, too.

This is a fantastic race. Another reason why I like Keeneland most of all! (Along with Saratoga and Woodbine.)

[TJ]

Here's the finish:
Shakhimat...ran an eye popping race today going wire to wire. Should set him up perfectly to win Canada's oldest race, The Queen's Plate! Real nice horse as you thought, Cree:>)
J R's Holiday...finished well for the place.
Inspector Lynley...3rd by a nose over,
Converge...4th.

[Cree]

I thought he may need a race, but I was wrong. Nice win by this colt, he looks like a serious horse for the Queens Plate

[TJ]

Here's the Transylvania replay. TJ
http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA

[TJ]

Limousine Liberal came back loaded for Runhappy:>) He just galloped today in Keeneland's 2nd race (Allowance Race) setting a new track record (1:15.05) for the 6.5 furlong distance. TJ

[TJ]

Upset in the Ashland, here's the finish:
Weep No More
Rachel's Valentina
Cathryn Sophia
Carina Mia

[TJ]

Here's the Madison Results:
Sheer Drama...at a nice price
Stopchargingmaria...a neck behind the winner
Wavell Avenue...completes the triple
Birdatthewire...4th