Check out my Friday (4-12-24) Race 9 analysis at Keeneland below.
KEE 9 (Grade 1 Marker’s Mark Mile, 4&up, 8T)
Primary – #8 INTEGRATION, #4 Master of The Seas
Secondary – #3 Naval Power, #6 Shirl’s Speight
Horse Comments:
#8 Integration (9-2) showed plenty of ability last year. He romped as the even money favorite in his turf route bow, and jumped up and won the Grade 3 Virginia Derby at 6-1 odds second time out. He was less than even money in the Grade 2 Hill Prince last fall, and he romped by five lengths. The Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf was his first start of the year on Jan. 27, and he ended up an even 5th of 12 as the beaten chalk. Shug McGaughey’s $700k Quality Road colt cuts back a furlong and Frankie Dettori is his new pilot.
#4 Master of The Seas (4-5) won Group 2 races in Dubai and Great Britain last year. He shipped to North America and captured the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last September, and missed by a nose in the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) in the fall. He ended 2023 with a dramatic nose victory in the BC Mile (G1). Charles Appleby is dangerous with shippers to the U.S. and William Buick knows this one well.
#3 Naval Power (10-1) is a first time gelding for Charles Appleby. He won his last two turf routes in Dubai including the Singspiel (G2) on Feb. 23. Tyler Gaffalione hops aboard and this one is 6-for-7 overall.
#6 Shirl’s Speight (15-1) likes this turf course. In two local outings in 2022, he won the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) and finished a close second in the BC Mile (G1). He was off his game in five starts last year but did manage to complete the exacta in the Woodbine Mile (G1). In his last start in the Pegasus World Cup Turf in January, he broke from post 10 and was unplaced. He can spice up the exotics if he has his mind on running.
Wagers:
#8 to win
Exacta box 4-8
Trifecta 3-4-8/3-4-8/6
Recent Bettor Bet$ 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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