Check out my Thursday (10-8-26) Keeneland Race 9 analysis below.
KEE 9 (Alw-150k, 3&up, 8.5T) – Post Time 5:16 PM ET
Primary – #12 TAKING CANDY, #5 Salamis
Secondary – #9 Facteur Cheval, #11 Poster, #2 Highway Robber
Horse Comments:
#12 Taking Candy (5-1) has been on a steady stakes diet since winning the G3 Fair Grounds at 9T (September 2025). He reconnects with Jose Ortiz and this is a good spot for Cherie DeVaux’s $400k Twirling Candy gelding. He is stabled at Keeneland and this is his first local attempt, and he likes this distance (8 3-3-0). He ran well from outer posts on more than one occasion and might offer a hint of value in this competitive turf route.
#5 Salamis (8-1) stalked and weakened late in the Bernard Baruch at SAR Sept. 3. He goes back on Lasix and is 2-for-3 with a show finish with that medication. Umberto Rispoli takes the call and he guided this one home in the G1 Hollywood Derby last fall. This is his third start of the year and he might bounce back at playable odds.
#9 Facteur Cheval (6-1) hit the board in back-to-back Group 3 races in Italy in June, and he got pace help and ended up 6th of 9 in the G3 Mint Millions at KD Sept. 7. Mark Casse has him now and he adds lasix, and Irad Ortiz Jr. is his new rider. He worked a half-mile at CD Sept. 25.
#11 Poster (8-1) makes his first start in more than eight months for Eoin Harty. Rafael Bejarano is 2-for-2 with the versatile colt., and he is 3-for-3 on turf.
#2 Highway Robber (3-1) makes his first start since winning a $300k turf route stakes at Ellis Park August 2025. His lone start at Keeneland resulted in a victory in the G2 Elkhorn under Thursday’s rider Tyler Gaffalione. He will try to make an impact in the lane.
Wagers:
#12 to win
Exacta box 5-12
Exacta 5-12/2-9-11
Trifecta key 12/2-5-9-11
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Sept. 13 – Dustem Too ($7.20)
Sept. 14 – Duration ($8.20), Exacta ($21.60)
Sept. 16 – Bob’s Carrot ($6.98)
Sept. 19 – San Siro ($8.60), Exacta ($18.00)
Sept. 20 – Jasmina ($4.00)
Sept. 23 – Memory/Pagode Exacta ($39.28)
Sept. 28 – Sealand/Kid Rich/Frenchman James Trifecta ($54.40)
Sept. 29 – Calvin’s Ride ($2.20)
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)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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