Check out my Thursday (10-22-26) Keeneland Race 7 analysis below.
KEE 7 (Alw-120k/1x, F&M, 8.5f dirt) – Post Time 4:12 PM ET
Primary – #2 MARIA LOUISE, #6 Atropa
Secondary – #1 American Pearl, #9 Passionfruit
Horse Comments:
#2 Maria Louise (4-1) dueled and graduated by 2 1/4 lengths in her flat mile bow at SAR Aug. 5, and she chased from second and settled for the show second time out Aug. 25 (beaten 7 lengths). She has better race spacing this time for Johnny V/Pletcher, and the $850k Gun Runner filly should impact the pace.
#6 Atropa (3-1) is back in action for Cherie DeVaux. She stretched out and aired by 10 lengths at this course/distance last fall. She rallied to finish a half-length behind Bella Ballerina in the G2 Golden Rod last fall, and she went to the sidelines after finishing a close third as the 1-2 favorite in the Silverbulletday Jan. 17. She has been working at KEE since June and shows multiple bullets for this. Her winning rider Jose Ortiz is 5-for-16 with this barn recently, and she adds Lasix for the first time.
#1 American Pearl (9-2) was second best in her local sprint bow last fall, and she moved forward with a front running maiden win at CD second time out. She caught the slop when last seen in an extended sprint in January and was best of the rest in third. She was the favorite in all three starts and should be forwardly placed from the inside post for William Walden.
#9 Passionfruit (6-1) improved her numbers in all four starts. She stalked wide and was second best in a slow early/fast late dirt route at CD Sept. 26.
Wagers:
#2 to win
Exacta box 2-6
Trifecta 2-6/1-2-6-9/1-2-6-9
October 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Oct. 1 – Kathynmarissa ($4.68), Trifecta ($251.84)
Oct. 3 – Domestic Agenda ($3.94), Exacta ($15.14)
Oct. 5 – Mobius ($9.80)
Oct. 6 – Vinsanity ($4.00)
Oct. 12 – Tirupati ($8.00)
Oct. 13 – Celestial Speed/Rock Tune Exacta ($6.00)
Oct. 14 – Jack and Jim ($7.44)
Oct. 15 – Showa ($12.44), Exacta ($23.68), Trifecta ($69.36)
Oct. 16 – Kool Mariah ($5.40), Trifecta ($44.00)
Oct. 17 – Timayyyy ($4.60)
Oct. 18 – Known Idea ($6.00), Exacta ($16.00)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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