Keeneland: Two Emmys Favored in Sycamore Stakes on Friday

With Breeder’s Cup inching ever closer the Keeneland fall meet rolls on. The highlight of Friday’s card will be the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes on turf.

Thursday Keeneland Selections

Below are selections for the Thursday card. Horses are listed in order of preference and significant horizontally wagers are listed in parenthesis.

• Race 1 (Early Pick 5): 4-5-3-6
• Race 2: 1-4-3-9
• Race 3: 3-4-1-2
• Race 4 (All Turf Pick 3 & Pick 6): 6-8-4-1
• Race 5 (Late Pick 5): 1-4-6-3
• Race 6: 13-8-1-16-2-6
• Race 7: 4-5-2-1
• Race 8: 8-7-5-9 (Best Bet: #8)
• Race 9: 4-10-9-7

Friday Analysis featuring the Sycamore Stakes

Keeneland Race 1- Early Pick 5

Post: 1:00 PM ET; Purse: $29,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 8

#5 ROUSING SIREN is 9-2 on the morning line and is competitive in a lot of handicapping factors. #6 CALL OF HONOR is at odds of 10-1 and could be ready to break the maiden at a price. #3 TIZ THE JOURNEY has experience that has to be respected as it tops this group in a lot of ways. The price is a little tough to swallow on a non-winner, but it is probably right against this field. #1 MR. PETERKIN is at odds of 3-1 and is well bred here.

Selections: 5-6-3-1

Keeneland Race 2

Post: 1:32 PM ET; Purse: $37,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 13

#3 PINCH HITTER is well bred to run a big race in this spot. #5 COASTAL CHAOS has been keeping good company early in the career.. #8 BELLINGER goes out for top connections. #2 REQUISITION is an interesting long shot at 15-1 considering the fact the horse really hasn’t ever done anything wrong.

Selections: 3-5-8-2

Keeneland Race 3

Post: 2:04 PM ET; Purse: $49,000 Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

#3 INVALUABLE may have the edge in class and stamina that allows her to outlast these foes to the wire. #1 LARIMAR is at odds of 2-1 and looks like a real threat to deliver in this spot. #5 PERSISTO may have a pace and speed edge which could prove tough for some of the others to overcome. #2 MAGICAL PEAPOD is 6-1 and an interesting alternative outside of the main contenders.

Selections: 3-1-5-2

Keeneland Race 4

Post: 2:36 PM ET; Purse: $37,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 8

#1 CARMICHAEL is at odds of 3-1 and based on speed figures is the logical choice. #7 SUPPRESSOR comes into the race well and could be sitting on a big performance. #4 SOUTHERNER is in good hands and is well bred for dirt routes. This one could be well worth the 8-1. #6 CAPTAIN FANTASTIC is another longer shot with a real chance to get a good setup to break the maiden.

Selections: 1-7-4-6

Keeneland Race 5- Pick 6

Post: 3:08 PM ET; Purse: $84,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

#1 COUSTEAU’s breeding make him a really likely winner her. Never bad to have Gaffalione and Brisset in your corner. #3 HERE MI SONG may get the best of the setup, but will likely be running for minors if the #1 performs to expectation. #5 CARMEL CRUSH has among the best numbers of those with experience. #2 JURA will be ridden by top rider Florent Geroux. His mounts are always worth at least minor consideration.

Selections: 1-3-5-2 (Best Bet #1)

Keeneland Race 6- Late Pick 5 & All Turf Pick 3

Post: 3:40 PM ET; Purse: $93,000 Allowance, 5 1/2 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 14

#11 CAROTARI looks really good based on a number of racing metrics. This runner has been very good in recent months. #12 MAVEN is at odds of 2-1 for Wesley War who often points his best runners to Keeneland. #13 MATTA will have to overcome the outside post, but has proven himself at the distance before. #7 HOLIDAY STONE for George Weaver could get into the number at a solid price.

Selections: 11-12-13-7

Keeneland Race 7

Post: 4:12 PM ET; Purse: $84,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 13

#7 MUN LUV has good early pace and has run against good horses lately. #10 GOODNIGHT OLIVE has the top speed figures in the group and goes out for Chad Brown who tends to put his best on the turf. #1 ENCOURAGING may be the value of the race at 15-1. The horse appears ready to put in a top effort. The question will be is that enough? #5 FITS THE JILL is another price that hasn’t done anything to disqualify herself from having a shot here.

Selections: 7-10-1-5

Keeneland Race 8

Post: 4:44 PM ET; Purse: $150,000 Sycamore S., 1 1/2 Miles on Turf; Entries: 12

#12 TWO EMMYS is the favorite and could get a really favorable set up in this spot. #2 AJOURNEYTOFREEDOM is at odds of 8-1 has the speed figures to suggest he could win this race. #1 GLYNN COUNTY is a Maker on turf. Leave off at your own peril. #11 KENTUCKY GHOST is a nice price under Bejarano and could be a factor in the result.

Selections: 12-2-1-11

Keeneland Race 9

Post: 5:16 PM ET; Purse: $86,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9

#5 TEJANO TWIST has the best speed numbers in the group. #7 OVERBORE is another major player for Wesley Ward and has faced the toughest company thus far. #1 AIN'T STRAIGHT may have the stamina to carry the extra 1/2 furlong on some of these. #4 COOL PAPA G is at odds of 6-1 for the team of Santana and Asmussen.

Selections: 5-7-1-4

Keeneland Race 10

Post: 5:48 PM ET; Purse: $43,000 Starter Allowance, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 15

#8 PRINCESS NINA may have the pace edge on these. #14 SENSE YOU LEFT goes out for Gaffalione and Sharp. The race would need to come off the turf for this one to draw in. #5 LUCY'S CAKES FLY has the best speed figures in the group and gets a nice middle draw here. #10 JAZZY LADY has a chance to get the perfect setup and will not be easily left off of tickets at a generous price.

Selections: 8-14-5-10

Weekend Coverage

Betting News will provide full card analysis for all graded stakes cards at Keeneland this weekend. Check back for Saturday and Sunday analysis featuring the Raven Run and Dowager Stakes respectively.