Keeneland, Race 8 – Friday, October 13, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
KEE8:101323 – One and 1/16th miles on the dirt. 16 fillies have been dropped into the hat, but only 12 will step into the starting gate. All but one have prior race experience – six have been out once and five have two races under their belt.
#2 – Enigmatic (8/1) – Brad Cox will saddle this West Coast homebred filly from Gary and Mary West. Her dam was unraced and she’s only foaled one other of racing age and that 5YO filly is 3 for 15 with $51,000 in earnings. Today’s runner has been out one time prior, that being in early September on the grass at Kentucky Downs. On that afternoon, she broke well and led throughout a good bit of the race before tiring and finishing fourth, beaten by seven lengths. Brad is hoping that the move to the dirt will help her carry her speed and he’s also pumped three half mile breezes into her over at Turfway Park since her race.
#4 – Genetics (7/2) – The Morning Line fav is a daughter of Tapit and was thrown from a terrific race mare that was 7 for 16 and won $502K, including a Grade 2 event. She’s produced a filly that banked $210K by going 3 for 13 – the bulk of her success was winning a G1 event at Woodbine in October of her 2YO campaign posting a swift 89 Equibase Speed Figure. Today’s runner hammered down for $525K as a yearling at Keeneland last September (10/39). Conditioner Bill Mott has thrown the saddle across her twice, both times on the dirt at Saratoga and both times at seven furlongs. Her first race in mid-August was actually a bit better than her second outing in early September. In her debut run, although she was off a tad slow, she pressed forward to earn the lead at the head of the stretch, but could not hold on, finishing third, beaten by only 1 ½ lengths while earning a very respectable 78 EBSF. Mott kept her up in NY after her last outing and has worked her four times – 17 total furlongs.
#6 – Arijana’s Pearl (10/1) – This filly by Curlin is out of a mare who was 2 for 9, with $105K in earnings and she’s produced two others of racing age – one that is unraced and one that is 1 for 11 ($27,000). Today’s filly went through the auction ring at Keeneland as a yearling last September, but the bidding stopped before meeting her reserve of $140K. She’s been out one time – back on 9/8/23 – at Delaware Park over six furlongs on the dirt. On that day she went off at odds off 3/1 and finished second of five, 3 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Since her run a month ago, trainer Graham Motion kept her up at Delaware Park where he’s worked her a half mile, three times.
#7 – Cararra (5/1) – Kenny McPeek is in charge of this filly who has raced twice prior to today. She wheels back today after racing most recently on 9/21/23 at Churchill Downs when she finished an even second (of 12) going seven furlongs on the dirt. She’s by Street Sense and is out of a mare that was 2 for 9 and $74,000 in prize money. This gal didn’t meet her RNA number of $85,000 when offered as a yearling last September at Keeneland. Since her last race, she flashed a bullet work at CD, going 5/8th of a mile in 1:00.4 (1/10).
#9 – Intricate (9/2) – The mighty Gun Runner is this filly’s dad and her dam is by Distorted Humor. Mom was only 1 for 8 on the track, bringing home $35,000 in earnings and this is her only foal of racing age. Today’s filly brought a final bid of $280K as a 2YO at OBS this past April (6/12). Conditioner Brendan Walsh has only put her into battle one time previously. On 9/16/23, she debuted under the Twin Spires going six furlongs over the dirt oval. In that one, she was shuffled back a bit going into the turn and then started to make up ground on the inside. Down the lane she was caught in between horses, but did finish a close up fifth, only two lengths shy of the victor. Walsh has installed two, four panel works into her since her race – one at CD and most recently over today’s KEE oval.
#11 – Plumeria (10/1) – Asmussen trains this Stonestreet homebred filly who’s by Curlin, out of a fine race mare who won six times from 21 tries and banked $257K, including a third place showing in a G3 event. However, her real work was done in the breeding shed having produced Stopchargingmaria – a winner of 9 for 18 and north of $3 million dollars. It was clear that she was going to be a very good one after her first race at Saratoga as a two-year-old produced a win with an 88 EBSF. She tacked on a G2 and G3 victory during her 2YO campaign and ultimately claimed the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 2015. She also threw a colt who won half of his eight races and $300K. Plumeria will try the dirt for the first time after two runner up finishes on the turf. Steve has also worked her twice at Churchill Downs since her last race at Kentucky Downs on 9/10/23.
#12 – Remembering (6/1) – This filly has a monster ½ brother that I’m sure that you know – Zandon. All that he’s done is win first time out as a 2YO at Belmont with a 93 EBSF and claim the 2022 G1 Blue Grass Stakes and 2023 G1 Woodward Stakes – his high EBSF is an incredible 115. Today’s runner is by American Freedom and, as you would expect, sold big as a yearling when she demanded $200K at KEE Sept last fall. This was not only the most for any yearling in 2022 by her sire, it was five times more than the second highest selling yearling ($40,000), however one RNAed for $75,000. As far as results for this filly – she’s raced twice on the dirt, first at ELP where she came fourth, 11+ lengths back and then on 9/14/23 at CD, she got beat by less than a length to claim the runner’s up share of the purse. To prep her for today’s competition, Mike McCarthy has given her two breezes since her last race – one at a half mile and one over 5/8th of a mile, both at Churchill.
Pick – #9 Intricate – Admittedly, this is a somewhat challenging race to finger the winner, but I always put one forward. I do like this gal’s last race and I believe the added ground will be a good thing for her. Gun Runner juveniles are tough and am encouraged to see that Walsh is going back to Tyler for pilot duties. However, Walsh is only 3 for 27 (11.1%) with NonFTSers at Keeneland in the fall over the prior five meets (2018 thru 2022). Another positive that I see are the two works since her last race and it gives me confidence that she’s had a chance to experience the surface at KEE one time in the morning. Best of luck to the owner of this filly in the Game of Silks – Lighthouse Racing!
