Check out my Saturday (4-13-24) Race 9 analysis at Keeneland below.
KEE 9 (Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, f&m, 8.5T)
Primary – #6 GINA ROMANTICA, #5 English Rose
Secondary – #7 Surge Capacity, #2 Fluffy Socks, #3 Elusive Princess, #9 Didia
Horse Comments:
#6 Gina Romantica (3-1) makes her first outing since finishing a respectable fourth in the BC Mile. Chad Brown’s classy returnee sports a pair of turf bullets for this and won both local Grade 1 starts (QE II Challenge Cup, First Lady). Her winning rider Tyler Gaffalione stays put and she can stalk or close.
#5 English Rose (9-2) is a neck away from a perfect 4-for-4 record. Charles Appleby is always dangerous with shippers, and he sent out the 1-2 finishers in Friday’s Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile. She reconnects with her winning rider William Buick and could easily be this good.
#7 Surge Capacity (5-1) is a 4-year-old filly with upside. She went 4-for-5 last year for Chad Brown. She captured the Grade 3 Lake George on yielding ground, and the Valley View (G3) and Grade 1 Matriarch on firm footing. Joel Rosario was aboard for all three stakes victories and she drilled a turf bullet for this on March 31.
#2 Fluffy Socks (6-1) does not win often but she usually puts in an honest late run. She was the beaten favorite in the Hillsborough (G3) on March 9, but she was taken out of her closing game and finished a solid third in that slow early/fast late event. Chad Brown’s mare can be in the mix from off the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr.
#3 Elusive Princess (8-1) moves up with some give in the ground. She dominated the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks on a course labeled soft at Saratoga last summer. She was a flat fourth in both starts since, and might move up in her second start of the year. Junior Alvarado is her new pilot and this race might be too short for her.
#9 Didia (4-1) is a 10-for-15 win type. She had the run of the race when Ruby Nell rated in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) last time. Jose Ortiz knows her now and she is consistent and versatile.
Wagers:
#6 to win
Exacta box 5-6
Trifecta 5-6-7/2-3-5-6-7-9/2-3
Recent Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
March 16 – Stay Hot ($4.00)
March 17 – Stay and Scam ($4.40), Exacta ($24.20)
March 22 – Big Novel ($4.20), Exacta ($19.60)
March 23 – Missed the Cut ($4.00), Exacta ($6.40), Trifecta ($14.40)
March 24 – Cathkin Peak/Crosby Beach Exacta ($22.80), Trifecta ($96.80)
March 29 – Sugar Fish ($5.00), Trifecta ($28.80)
April 5 – De’ Medici/Feel the Magic Exacta ($55.40)
April 10 – Native Land/Heartened/Rocketeer Trifecta ($49.04)
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