Keeneland Barn Notes: Appleby Eyes G1 Double This Weekend

(Modern Games / Coady Photography)

From the Keeneland Media Team:

APPLEBY ON SITE AS GODOLPHIN GOES
FOR GRADE 1 DOUBLE THIS WEEKEND

When trainer Charlie Appleby was last seen at Keeneland, he was picking up his third piece of 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships’ hardware following the victory by Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance (IRE) in the $4 million Turf (G1).

That victory came on the heels of wins for Godolphin and Appleby in the FanDuel Breeders’ Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF by eventual champion Modern Games (IRE) and in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) by Mischief Magic (IRE). They were Appleby’s first Keeneland winners.

“You learn what horses to bring over,” Appleby said Friday morning after watching Modern Games and With The Moonlight (IRE) train for engagements today and Saturday in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) and Jenny Wiley (G1), respectively.

Coming over from Europe was something Appleby did successfully with Modern Games and With The Moonlight. Modern Games took the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) before his Breeders’ Cup victory and With The Moonlight ran at Belmont and Saratoga with a win and two seconds in graded stakes.

“I have no worries at all with my team,” Appleby said of the extensive travel. “The horses have adopted very well to their surroundings.”

With the blueprint in place, Appleby envisions a similar schedule for Godolphin runners this year.

“We are working back from the Breeders’ Cup (to be held at Santa Anita on Nov. 3-4),” said Appleby, who will return to Europe Saturday night. “The season in Europe is just getting started and these races (in North America) fit our schedule. I can see Belmont, Saratoga and Woodbine (in play).”

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER RICH STRIKE WORKS
BULLET 5 FURLONGS IN :59.80

RED TR-Racing’s Rich Strike continued to prepare for his 2023 debut by working a bullet 5 furlongs in :59.80 early Friday morning over a fast track for trainer Eric Reed.

With Gabriel Lagunes aboard, the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve winner posted fractions of :23.80, :47.80, :59.80 and galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:13.40.

“Gabe said he was perfect this morning and worked the way he did before the Derby,” Reed said of Rich Strike, who is nominated to the 92 running of Keeneland’s $300,000 Ben Ali (G3) to be run at 1 3/16 miles on April 22. “I want to get him as tight as I can before his first time out against horses that have been running. If all goes well, that will point him for the ($1 million) Stephen Foster (G1 on July 1 at Churchill Downs).”

Reed said the Ben Ali is in the mix for the 2023 debut along with next Saturday’s $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the $600,000 Alysheba (G2) Presented by Sentient Jet at Churchill on May 5.

“I’ll talk it over with (owner) Rick (Dawson) the next couple of days,” Reed said. “The Alysheba is probably the most likely spot. He would work again in nine or 10 days, and it would be at Churchill Downs.”

OEUVRE SEEKS TO EXTEND WIN STREAK IN SATURDAY’S GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

Richard Perkins’ homebred filly Oeuvre will be seeking a sixth consecutive victory Saturday when she goes postward in the 26running of the $250,000 Giant’s Causeway (L) going 5½ furlongs on the grass.

The 4-year-old Shackleford filly has won nine of her past 10 races for trainer Chris Block. She will be ridden Saturday by Jareth Loveberry, who never has lost on Oeuvre in eight races.

“Oeurve has talent and has been one of those that matured mentally through her 3-year-old season,” Block said via text. “That combination molded her into what she is. I believe she is a better filly on grass. She is solid on dirt as well, but I believe a little better on grass.”

Loveberry agrees with that assessment for Oeuvre, who has won four of six grass races.

“She will run on anything, but I like her better on grass although she does just fine on dirt,” Loveberry said. “She is special. She matured a lot the last six months starting at Colonial Downs (in Virginia). She started to get into it and relax more.”

Oeuvre, winner of the Mardi Gras (L) and the Nelson Menard Memorial Stakes on the turf in her two most recent starts at Fair Grounds, will attempt to turn the tables on Gayla Rankin’s Happy Soul in the Giant’s Causeway. Oeuvre finished just behind runner-up Happy Soul in the Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City Stakes (L) at Kentucky Downs in September for her lone defeat since 2021.

Block will try to get the weekend off to a good start when he runs Town and Country Racing’s Knockyoursocksoff in this afternoon’s fifth race.

Second in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) on turf here last fall and then runner-up in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs on the dirt, Knockyoursocksoff makes her first start since being eased in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18.

“We are hoping to get Knockyoursocksoff back on track today getting back to turf,” Block said. “She should enjoy the mile and an eighth as well. Never say never, but we will be looking to stay on turf.”

FRIDAY WORK TAB

Two candidates for next Friday’s $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3) worked a half-mile.

Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje’s Shotgun Hottie covered the distance in :48 for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Brereton Jones’Trobairitz was clocked in :51.40 for trainer Neil Pessin.

KEENELAND CONNECTIONS EARN CANADA’S HIGHEST HONOR

Horses who raced and/or sold at Keeneland were honored last night with Sovereign Awards to recognize Canada’s champions in 2022.

X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing’s Moira, who was named Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly, is a graduate of Keeneland’s world-famous September Yearling Sale. In 2020, X-Men Racing purchased the daughter of Ghostzapper for $150,000 from the consignment of Hidden Brook, agent. Moira was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs.

At Keeneland, Moira ran in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in her only race outside Canada.

Other Keeneland sales graduates who received Sovereign Awards are Raroma Stable’s Philip My Dear (2-year-old male), True North Stable’s Hazelbrook (female sprinter) and M Racing Group’s Who’s the Star (older main track male).

Charles Fipke’s Lady Speightspeare, who ran third in last year’s Jenny Wiley (G1) and the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) here, claimed Sovereigns as champion female turf horse and champion older main track female.

“She got two,” a beaming trainer Roger Attfield said Friday from Keeneland the morning after arriving from South Florida. “I’ll be here through the rest of the meet and then the first week at Churchill Downs.”

Other Sovereign Award winners who raced at Keeneland were Cairo Consort (2-year-old female), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (male sprinter and male turf horse) and Who’s the Star.

Mark Casse, who has a string stabled at Keeneland, won his 12 consecutive Sovereign Award and 15 overall as champion trainer.

SUNDAY’S CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5 INCLUDES THREE KEENELAND RACES

Sunday’s Cross Country Pick 5 has three Keeneland races, including the Palisades (L) and Beaumont (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select. The minimum wager is 50 cents.

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 features these races:

Leg A: Keeneland, Race 6 – maiden special weight at 3:40 p.m.

Leg B: Keeneland, Race 7 – Palisades (L) at 4:12 p.m.

Leg C: Aqueduct, Race 7 – starter allowance at 4:34 p.m.

Leg D: Keeneland, Race 8 – Beaumont (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select at 4:44 p.m.

Leg E: Aqueduct, Race 8 – allowance at 5:06 p.m.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

Here are the prospective entries for upcoming stakes compiled by Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare.

Friday, April 21 race. Entries taken Sunday

$300,000 BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE (G3) – Hidden Connection (Bret Calhoun), Interstatedaydream (Brad Cox), She Can’t Sing (Chris Block), ShotgunHottie (Cherie DeVaux), Trobairitz (Neil Pessin). Possible:DesertDawn (Phil D’Amato).

Saturday, April 22 races. Entries taken Wednesday, April 19

$350,000 ELKHORN (G2) – Another Mystery (Block), Scarlet Fusion (Joe Sharp). Possible:AlexJoon (Lindsay Schultz), Camp Hope (Kenny McPeek), English Conqueror (Darwin Banach), Tiz the Bomb (McPeek).

$300,000 BEN ALI (G3) – Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Trademark (Vicki Oliver). Possible:HappyAmerican(Pessin), RichStrike (Eric Reed), Zozos (Brad Cox).

SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through April 13 (4 days of 15-day season)

SPRING MEET WEEK 2 SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Visit keeneland.com/tours for availability and to purchase.

Through August

Located on Keeneland’s campus, Keeneland Library features the free exhibit The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneersthrough August. The Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reach the Library, enter Keeneland at Gate 1 (Man o’ War Blvd.) on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.

Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16

The Hill. Keeneland’s official tailgating area now is open Sundays during the Spring Meet. No ticket or reservation is required for The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 4. Amenities, available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., include a jumbo TV, wagering, live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and complimentary shuttles to the track. Keeneland partner RevelXP will offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. Visit Keeneland.com/tailgating.

Friday, April 14

College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End. Keeneland invites college students to enjoy a day of racing, prizes, scholarship giveaways, behind-the-scenes racing experiences, reserved seating and more. By pre-registering, students will receive a free general admission ticket good for April 14 and have the opportunity to win one of ten $2,000 scholarships provided by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland. Students who attend the race day and have their tickets scanned day-of also will be eligible to win two additional $10,000 scholarships provided by Lane’s End Farm, as well as prize packages from local Kentucky businesses. Pre-register www.Keeneland.com/csd.

Spring Handicapping Challenge. Available only at the track, the Spring Handicapping Challenge offers one berth to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) in November at Santa Anita Park and as many as four spots to the 2024 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas. Players will wager a live bankroll of $250 on Keeneland races. Click here to register and for more information.

Saturday, April 15

Sunrise Trackside. This free Saturday morning program is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Children’s activities, located on the first floor of the Grandstand from 8-10 a.m., include a visit with Keeneland’s mascot, Buckles, along with face painting, games and more. Fans can enjoy coffee and donuts at the Starting Gate concession stand while watching horses train. Mini tours will be available at the Welcome Stand in the Paddock. A meet and greet with a horse will take place in the Walking Ring from 8:30-9 a.m.

Grade 1 Gamble. The signature handicapping contest of the Spring Meet is the Grade 1 Gamble, which Keeneland is hosting in cooperation with XpressBet, NYRABets, 4NJ Bets, HPI and TVG on the day of the Jenny Wiley (G1), Stonestreet Lexington (G3) and Giant’s Causeway (L). Entry fee is $3,500 with $2,500 going to a live bankroll and $1,000 to the prize fund. Contestants may play at Keeneland or on one of the aforementioned ADW platforms. Prizes include an estimated $75,000 for first place (based on 300 entries), as many as six berths in the BCBC and 10 spots in the NHC. Click here to register and for more information.

Sunday, April 16

Military Day at the Races Presented by UPS. This event recognizes the men and women who serve our country. All active duty, reserve, veterans and military families receive free general admission and reserved Grandstand seating with a military ID. Military guests and their families can enjoy complimentary food from the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott and Coca-Cola in the Military Family Zone in the North Terrace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.