Check out my Thursday (4-22-26) Keeneland Race 5 analysis below.
KEE 5 (Alw-130k/2x, 4&up, 9T) – Post Time 3:08 PM ET
Primary – #5 EJTIMAA, #2 Talbingo
Secondary – #8 Soleil Volant, #1 Versus
Horse Comments:
#5 Ejtimaa (10-1) is 7-for-16 overall and he rallied for the show from post 10 in a similar local turf route April 9. His new rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. is 12-for-27 recently and the number he earned last time puts him in the mix vs. this group.
#2 Talbingo (6-5) is 4-for-7 with two runner-up finishes. He returned from a layoff of 7+ months and was 6th of 11 on the main track at CD November 2025. He moved to turf and I made him my top choice Jan. 31, and he stalked and scored by 3 lengths as the favorite. He rallied to miss by a nose at the favorite at 7.5T March 28. He sports a pair of local works for this including a 5f bullet April 17. Rosario stays put and he booted him home in a synthetic route March 2025.
#8 Soleil Volant (4-1) placed in two stakes as a sophomore last year and won the Kent Stakes September 2025. Graham Motion’s returnee gets the services of John Velazquez and he will try to get involved from off the pace.
#1 Versus (8-1) was stuck out in post 10 in the Showing Up when last seen November 2025, and he was a solid third in the Kent Stakes last September. Luis Saez takes the call and he should save ground behind the speed.
Wagers:
#5 to win
Exacta box 2-5
Trifecta 2-5/1-2-5-8/1-2-5-8
April 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
April 2 – Charlie’s Curlin ($5.60)
April 3 – Joint Venture ($3.60)
April 4 – Meaning ($3.80)
April 8 – Dresden Row ($6.58), Trifecta ($67.28)
April 11 – West End Kid ($5.72), Exacta ($10.58), Trifecta ($29.28)
April 12 – In Our Time ($12.88)
April 13 – Play the Gray ($8.20)
April 15 – Rothko/Coalmoon Exacta ($42.26)
April 16 – Chapman’s Peak/Concord Green/Carcano Trifecta ($232.24)
April 21 – Black Rose/Quality View Exacta ($41.80)
April 22 – Evanescence/Beyond Belief Exacta ($11.32), Trifecta ($19.12)
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