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Race 1-

1^st #5 Joy to the World is trained by Joe Sharp and ran a pretty solid first race.  Since she was off a little slow, she just couldn’t catch them. I believe the extra distance will be a big benefit for her here.  Despite her dam’s weak performances, her offspring has been successful. This filly has an older full brother who is doing well for himself as well.

2^nd #9 Awesome One beat Joy to the World last out at the Fairgrounds.  Her first couple of races were no bueno but she’s picked it up as she’s gained experience.  This is her first race at Keeneland. She is by Speightstown with some blacktype on the mares side.

3^rd #1 Maid in the Mist has had a long layoff where she was “no match” last fall at Keeneland.  She gets back on the turf here which will suit her since she ran better her first race. Let’s cut her a little bit of slack since it’s her first race back, so if she doesn’t run well, it’s an excused performance.

Race 2-

1^st #3 Bold Prophet started out strong, then lately has been in some tough company.  He takes a nice class drop here. The son of Into Mischief is trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez who are both off to sensational starts at this meet.

2^nd #6 Dreamzapper takes a similar class drop.  I am quite surprised how quickly he is running back and maybe he will scratch.  If that is the case, make sure to check my Twitter for a replacement pick. My theory is that with the long layoff he had, he just needs to get fit.

3^rd #5 Portal leaves the warm Florida weather and ships up to Keeneland.  Last year when he ran here, he ran a respectable second place. He just won last out as the chalk and it was a nice race.

Race 3–

1^st #1 Can’thelpbelieving (IRE) is a hard knocking, consistent gelding.  Eight years old with over half a million in earnings, he is also a globetrotter who has been to so many places and despite all the traveling, has remained competitive.  Off a 13 month layoff, he won a grade 2 at Woodbine. (Beating my families horse, Pumpkin Rumble).

2^nd #4 Revved Up is a six year old Candy Ride colt trained by Mark Casse.  His last races haven’t been great on paper, but still higher Beyer numbers and if you really pay attention, good efforts.  Often times, the races he is put in are much longer distance than his liking so he just gets tired.

3^rd #9 Dot Matrix was bumped last out which pretty much took him out.  He’s had eight months off since then, and has been on the board for over half of his career starts.  He may need an out or two to get him fit, but I suspect Brad Cox has him ready to go.

Race 4-

1^st #7 Master Distiller is coming over from Aqueduct with four second places out of four starts.  Despite that, he’s made $52,000. For sure a check collector for his connections. He hasn’t had an official workout on the Keeneland surface but his latest workout at Churchill was great.

2^nd #8 Forbetterorworse comes over from Oaklawn.  His first race wasn’t great, but not all horses run well at first asking.  It was also a brutal field that day. Phillip Sims is off to a hot start so lets see what this guy can do.

3^rd #6 Tringale has Geroux aboard again which is fantastic as they seemed to make a nice team last out.  He was sure an expensive purchase at $135,000 and hasn’t come anywhere close to making that back but there is still hope.

Race 5-

1^st #9 Dixieincandyland is a first time starter for Eddie Kenneally.  Solid breeding on this girl. I am excited for her debut with Tyler Gaffalione aboard.

2^nd #1 Kitten’s Finest two back had no interest in racing that day.  Her other two races have decent. I’d like to see her go back to Woodbine.

3^rd #4 She’s Proud finished behind Kitten’s Finest last out at Gulfstream.  I think she would have had better luck if she could have broke better. She just sort of hopped awkwardly out of the gate, but it was her first race and she has solid connections.

Race 6-

1^st #1 Lontani is a homebred who has required a lot of patience.  Something happened last out, it’s been almost a year since he has raced.  He was trained by Bob Baffert and now comes halfway across the country for Brad Cox, who is doing well with eight starts and three wins.

2^nd #5 Gentle Warrior deserves a chance since Fairgrounds horses seem to be doing well at Keeneland so far.  Out of six starts he only has one third place. That was his first race, and his best race as he only lost by a length that day at Churchill.

3^rd #7 Honos Man is a Triple Crown nomination who unfortunately won’t be making it there.  Out of his two races, as you can see from his last performance, it was a better effort. His Beyer number also improved drastically.

Race 7-

1^st #9 Battle of Memphis (IRE) looks to be the best in this bunch.  Most of the horses in this race are being bumped up quite a bit in class.  This fella is too, but when he broke his maiden, he got an 85 Beyer. That’s really respectable for a maiden.  He’s fresh to- has had nearly sixty days off.

2^nd #5 Face of Victory is one of the ones that is going up in class.  However, he ran an 89 Beyer last out when he won at Gulfstream. I do see it being a little difficult for him to win two in a row, but overall he is a fairly consistent gelding.

3^rd #2 Vegas Kitten hasn’t won in a year but has put in some nice efforts since then.  Switches from Chad Brown to Danny Gargan. His Saratoga races were fantastic, and even though he didn’t win, those were some monster horses.

Race 8-

1^st #2 Support was a nice $20,000 purchase and has since over tripled her purchase price at the age of three.  She hasn’t been off the board and has four second places out of six races. Hoping to see this race be hers to win.

2^nd #3 Foxtail (really hoping she stays in this race, fingers crossed) might be lightly raced at the age of five with only eleven career starts but she is consistent and all races have been good ones.  First race at Keeneland for this Cali girl.

3^rd #5 Aife is in a tough race here.  She hasn’t faced this kind of company in a while but nonetheless, the fillies she has been running against at the Fairgrounds are competitive.  I have my hopes she will be on the board and I know she’s going to put in a good effort, because her races are always close ones.

Race 9-

Although this is an allowance race with a huge pot, it’s a tough one to handicap.  1^st #2 Voting Control hasn’t ran since the 2017 BC.  He ran an excellent race finishing third place. I don’t like horses that have these incredibly long layoffs, but I think Brown will have him ready to go.

2^nd #5 Personal Time has improved over the course of his career.  The son of Malibu Moon hasn’t tried Keeneland yet, and is coming from Gulfstream to up here.

3^rd Call me crazy, but I am going to take a 15/1 horse here.  #8 Create Again has ran two clunkers in a row. His races have been tough, especially two back when he just flattened and quit (chart says tired), but if you look at his previous races and Beyer numbers, you’ll see why I am taking him.