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Keeneland, Race 2 – 04/12/2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
KEE2:041223 – 4 1/2f on the Dirt. Entrees overfloweth once again as 16 fillies are entered, including four AEs. Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ First-Crop Sire – Lost Treasure – has his first ever runner in this one – #8 Joia Rara. Check out the six below that we’ve hand-picked for you to take a laser-focused look – and then see our pick at the bottom of the piece.
- #2 – Unheard (7/2) – Co-bred by Godolphin, this Street Boss filly is the priciest of the bunch having sold for $45,000 as a yearling. Her dam (by Malibu Moon) was an 0 fer on the track, but she was thought to have had some promise after selling for $285,000 as a 2YO. You can’t overlook this gal as she sailed through 4f from the gate on 4/5/23 in 46.4, which was fastest at the distance from 55 others that morning at KEE. Christopher Davis trains and James Graham tickles the reins.
- #4 – Next Dot (10/1) – J. A. Hancock will saddle this runner sired by Cairo Prince (Airdrie Stud) who brought $13,000 at the KEE September Yearling sale, purchased by his trainer (42nd most expensive from the 47 yearlings sold by her sire in 2022). Mom didn’t have any success on the track and has thrown three full bros/sisters to this one, the best being a filly who was 2/19 earning almost $100K. True Nicks gives Next Dot a top-notch rating of ‘A+’. As far as works, she put up three sizzling ones in her first three morning efforts at Turfway Park, posting bullets in all of them, including her last there, speeding along in 34.8 from the gate (1/30). Most recently, she had two useful, four panel breezes here at KEE. Luan Machado will be aboard.
- #6 – Boyne Valley (20/1) – Trainer John Ennis picked up this youngster as a yearling for $25,000 (tied for 6th highest out of 30). She’s sired by Unified (Lane’s End Farm) and she’s out of a More Than Ready dam who scored twice in her racing days in 12 tries, but also had two fine runner up finishes – once in a G2 and once in a G3. Additionally, this mare has thrown two 2YO FTS winners, one by Tapit, who clocked a silly high 96 Equibase Speed Fig breaking his maiden. Today’s runner made her first five morning appearances at The Thoroughbred Center (the last there was at 4f) before her last work that came over the KEE strip. She could only muster a ‘C+’ True Nick rating. The pilot today will be Edgar Morales.
- #7 – Greenteaze (5/1) – This Firing Line (Crestwood Farm) filly hammered down for $35K as a yearling (nearly three times higher than the next highest yearling sold from her sire in 2022) before not meeting her reserve as a 2YO in training last month at Ocala, even though she dashed her ‘under tack’ furlong in 10.1 seconds. Her dam was unraced. True Nicks was only able to give this mating a rating of ‘D’. Trainer Luis Mendez captured one of the nine 2YO MSW races here at KEE last spring going 1 for 8. This gal has five workouts under her belt (three at 4f) – one bullet, handily in 49.4 for 4f (1/14) at Dixie Downs – and two breezes at KEE. The call has gone out to Declan Cannon to ride.
- #9 – Happy Baytown (6/1) – Claiborne Farm’s ever-present sire – Runhappy – is the pops of this filly purchased by trainer Paul McEntee (in partnership) right here at KEE last September as a yearling for $18,000 (35/53). Her Tiznow dam was an expensive yearling bringing $440,00, but disappointed on the track going 0/6. She did produce a runner, however, after being bred to Into Mischief – a filly who earned nearly a quarter million dollars. The mating for today’s filly was far from heralded by True Nicks, grading out as an ‘F’. Three of her last four works have been bullets, the most recent coming over the KEE dirt on 3/29/23 – 4f ‘breezing’ from the gate in 46.8 (1/33). Tyler Heard will be her guide.
- #12 – Hibernacle (2/1) – If you were silly enough to think that you were going to see a main field without ‘The Maestro’, you are mistaken (he also has an AE). Just like Friday’s winner, this one is bred, owned and trained by Ward. This filly’s sire – Hootenanny – also stands at Ward Farm in KY, so it’s ‘All in the Family’. Hibernate’s dam struck out on the track, but has produced two early, 2YO MSW FTS winners – imagine that! In eight total works, this gal has produced a bullet in her initial effort and also her most recent – both 36.8 for 3f – breezing from the gate at TP on 2/9/23 being the fastest from eight that day/distance and also here at KEE last Thursday, 4/6/23, best of four at 3f that day. Joel Rosario tries to make it two for two in these baby races.
- Pick – #6 – Boyne Valley – let’s take a stand at 20/1 on the Morning Line! Outside of the #12 horse, I like her as much or more than anything else in here – so why no go for a nice price? She was well received as a yearling and we like her sire, Unified, as he does well with these babies. She has a spin around the KEE oval and also a 4f workout, which is always beneficial for these youngsters. Plus, John Ennis is likely to win one of these type races this meet, let’s hope that it is today!
Good luck and enjoy, my bright Edgies! Right back at ya tomorrow with our ‘PPPs’ for an excellent, 2YO MSW race here at KEE on Thursday – Race 2. Also, ‘Sum Up and Learnings’ to follow the above race. Hope that you’re having as much fun as we are.
