Keeneland wrap-up: Grade I winner Brass Hat to make debut as show horse

Wednesday’s figures: On-track attendance, 8,477; on-track betting, $489,625; total betting including simulcast, $4,592,215.82.

This day last year: On-track attendance, 9,877; on-track betting, $642,590; total betting including simulcast, $4,585,992.

Coming up: A nine-race card is on tap for Thursday. The meet concludes its 16-day run Friday with the Grade III Bewitch Stakes headlining the 10-race closing-day card.

Final furlong

▪ Unbeaten champion and current Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist headed to the training track Wednesday morning, jogging twice around with exercise rider Jonny Garcia up. The son of Uncle Mo is set to gallop Thursday and will work Friday at Keeneland at 12:15 p.m. with jockey Mario Gutierrez aboard for his final serious move in advance of the Kentucky Derby. “We try to keep him in a good maintenance mode between races,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “When Mario’s on his back, the racing face begins for him.”

▪ Grade I winner Brass Hat, whose final career win came in Keeneland’s 2010 Grade III Sycamore Stakes, is scheduled to make his debut as a show horse on May 8 during the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association event at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 15-year-old gelding, who won 10 races in 40 starts and earned $2,173,561, will be ridden by 12-year-old Jett Bradley, daughter of his trainer, Buff Bradley.

▪ Wake Up Joe, a 4-year-old Zensational gelding trained by Doug Matthews, was pulled up and vanned off after running third in the day’s third race but did not appear to have a serious injury, per Keeneland officials.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Keeneland wrap-up: Grade I winner Brass Hat to make debut as show horse."