Late Queen Honored Saturday: Keeneland Analysis, Selections

McKulick returns to racing as the even money favorite on Saturday at Keeneland. She will run in race 9 which is named after the late Queen Elizabeth the 2nd.

Keeneland- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM ET; $61k Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 BACKSIDEOFTHEMOON (9-5) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #6 FROSTED GRACE (7-2) may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #7 SECOND OF JULY (9-2) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 BLUE STEEL (4-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Leonard and Murrill.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 7 – 3

Keeneland- Race 2

Post: 1:32 PM ET; $100k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 16

• #2 GUCCI BOY (6-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Diodoro and Santana.
• #1 READ ON (15-1) is a price horse and seems to fit well enough here.
• #8 CURLY LARRY AND MO (12-1) should be competitive in this spot based on some of the fields he’s faced recently.
• #16 DECANTED (5-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 8 – 16

Keeneland- Race 3

Post: 2:04 PM ET; $44k Claiming going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 SUE ELLEN MISHKIN (5-2) looks best here. She shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance.
• #6 LEGENDARY GIFT (3-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Martin and Jordan.
• #2 FOREVER HOME (4-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #4 BIZZY ECHO (8-1) looks to be the class of the field. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 2 – 4

Keeneland- Race 4

Post: 2:36 PM ET; $65k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 MACRON (9-5) gets the top selection. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front end pace.
• #5 COST BASIS (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race and looks to be the class of the field.
• #1 EMERALD EXPRESS (6-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one goes out for the Cano barn and gets Corrales in the irons.
• #2 SHADOW MATTER (8-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the lead

Selections: 6 – 5 – 1 – 2

Keeneland- Race 5

Post: 3:08 PM ET; $140k Allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 9

• #4 IN LOVE (3-1) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 GREYES CREEK (15-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #8 WINFROMWITHIN (4-1) looks good based on the recent competition.
• #2 MOUILLAGE (2-1) comes into the race in good form and is one to deal with here.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 8 – 2

Keeneland- Race 6

Post: 3:40 PM ET; $100k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 SUNNY RIVER (8-5) has races good enough to beat this group. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #4 INVENTING (5-2) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #8 FOREVER AFTER ALL (7-2) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #3 FINE COTTON (6-1) isn't without hope. She is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 7 – 4 – 8 – 3

Keeneland- Race 7

Post: 4:12 PM ET; $100k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 16

• #7 SIX MISSIONS (9-2) gets the top selection. He goes out for the Brisset barn and gets Prat in the irons.
• #14 MIRANDA RIGHTS (4-1) gets the top selection. He should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #8 DARYL'S BOLT (15-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #4 WORTHINGTON (7-2) should improve off the first start and shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.

Selections: 7 – 14- 8 – 4

Keeneland- Race 8

Post: 4:44 PM ET; $110k Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 SCENIC MASTERPIECE (3-1) is the top pick. She should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #3 DAME JOVIALE (20-1) is a price horse and should be close enough to have a shot at things late. The price seems too high for this one.
• #6 YOUR SO SILLEA (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. She projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #2 CANCEL THIS (2-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 6 – 2

Keeneland- Race 9

Post: 5:16 PM ET; $600k Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. Presented by Dixiana going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 7

• #5 BELLABEL (5-1) looks best here. She has to be respected going out for the combination of D'Amato and Rispoli. The fact that a jockey is willing to fly out to ride this one is a plus.
• #6 MCKULICK (1-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 GINA ROMANTICA (7-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Prat.
• #4 NEW YEAR'S EVE (9-2) isn't without hope. She seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 2 – 4

Keeneland- Race 10

Post: 5:48 PM ET; $61k Starter Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 11

1. #7 FEAST (2-1) gets the top selection. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
2. #11 THE QUEENS JULES (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really good at this distance in the past and gets Florent Geroux in the saddle.
3. #10 BEVERLY PARK (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
4. #4 ULTIMATE (8-1) has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 7 – 11- 10- 4

Keeneland Handicapping Tools

Betting News will continue bringing full card analysis from stakes action from around North America. Coverage includes weekend action from Belmont, Santa Anita Park and opening weekend from Keeneland which prepares to host the Breeders’ Cup in November.