Keeneland Spring Meet: Derby Prep, Blue Grass Stakes Analysis

Keeneland returns on Friday. Opening weekend at the boutique meet will include a Kentucky Derby prep on Saturday. The Blue Grass winner will make the gate.

Blue Grass Full Card Selections

Keeneland- Race 1

Post: 12:30 PM ET; $47k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 14

• #13 SUPER RENEE (7-2) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #1 HALO OF FIRE (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Ward and Ortiz. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #4 PROUD FOOT (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #14 HOT ANNA (15-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 13- 1 – 4 – 14

Keeneland- Race 2

Post: 1:05 PM ET; $100k Maiden Special Weight going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #1 MULLIKIN (3-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. The debut would be good enough here. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 WICKED AGAIN (8-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. The first effort puts this one in the mix and even a small step forward could put this one in the mix.
• #8 BETTERA (5-2) ran a really nice debut and will look to build upon that race in this spot.
• #3 DUAL MONARCHY (20-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 8 – 3

Keeneland- Race 3

Post: 1:40 PM ET; $120k Allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #13 AGENT PETER GRAVES (7-2) looks best here. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #12 KANTHARI (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one goes out for the Pletcher barn and gets Saez in the irons.
• #15 OUR SHOT (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 MAMBA ON THREE (7-2) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. The draw makes this one a major player, especially if the outside rivals fail to draw in.

Selections: 13- 12- 15- 5

Keeneland- Race 4

Post: 2:15 PM ET; $130k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #4 MANNY WAH (3-1) gets the top selection. He goes out for the Catalano barn and gets Lanerie in the irons.
• #1 KNEEDEEPINSNOW (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Shirer and Gaffalione. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #5 THREE TECHNIQUE (7-2) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
• #6 FORTIN HILL (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 5 – 6

Keeneland- Race 5

Post: 2:50 PM ET; $300k Commonwealth S. going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #2 NAKATOMI (2-1) is the top pick. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Ward and Gaffalione.
• #7 RUN CLASSIC (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He goes out for the Calhoun barn and gets Gutierrez in the irons.
• #3 GET HER NUMBER (4-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #1 HOIST THE GOLD (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures and comes into the race in solid form.

Selections: 2 – 7 – 3 – 1

Keeneland- Race 6

Post: 3:25 PM ET; $400k Appalachian S. Presented by Japan Racing Association going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 9

• #3 CAIRO CONSORT (3-1) looks best here. She has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #4 HEAVENLY SUNDAY (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #7 PLEASANT PASSAGE (5-2) has races good enough to beat this group. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #5 ALPHA BELLA (9-2) has back races that put this one right in the mix.

Selections: 3 – 4 – 7 – 5

Keeneland- Race 7

Post: 4:00 PM ET; $600k Madison S. going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #2 GOODNIGHT OLIVE (2-5) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #3 SOCIETY (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance. This one goes out for the Asmussen barn and gets Geroux in the irons.
• #4 YUUGIRI (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end and has proven to be able to handle this level of competition.
• #5 MARYQUITECONTRARY (6-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Keeneland- Race 8

Post: 4:35 PM ET; $350k Shakertown S. going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 13

• #12 ARREST ME RED (9-2) is the top pick. He has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #8 CARAVEL (8-5) appears to be a major player in this race. She makes sense on speed figures. This one goes out for the Cox barn and gets Gaffalione in the irons.
• #3 ARTEMUS CITYLIMITS (5-1) should be competitive in this spot. He seems to fit well enough here. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #10 OCEANIC (15-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 12- 8 – 3 – 10

Keeneland- Race 9

Post: 5:15 PM ET; $1000k Toyota Blue Grass S. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 11

• #1 TAPIT TRICE (5-2) looks best here. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance. This one has been the best of these runners but will need to keep improving to live up to the top billing.
• #3 VERIFYING (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He goes out for the Cox barn and gets Gaffalione in the irons. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #7 SUN THUNDER (10-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. The speed figures make this one among the second tier of contenders.
• #8 BLAZING SEVENS (6-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Ortiz. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 7 – 8

Keeneland- Race 10

Post: 5:50 PM ET; $110k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 SQUIRE CREEK (6-5) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #2 GILCREASE (5-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #4 BLUE LIGHT (7-2) ran a great first race and should take a step forward at second asking.
• #3 DEER DISTRICT (20-1) is a price horse and comes into the race in solid form.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 4 – 3

Keeneland- Race 11

Post: 6:25 PM ET; $100k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 16

• #3 OPERATION TORCH (8-5) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #1 MONDEGO (5-2) is another lightly raced entry that will look to get forward.
• #14 JUST SO (10-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one goes out for the Brown barn and gets Gaffalione in the irons.
• #6 HE'S GOT SWAGGER (5-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. This one will be looking for a little pace to run at up front.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 14- 6