Way-too-early Derby dreams and four other great things about Keeneland’s Fall Meet

Keeneland’s Fall Meet starts with a bang this weekend with nine “win-and-you’re-in” stakes races that will send each of their first-place finishers to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships next month at Churchill Downs.

While the spring has your Kentucky Derby and Oaks’ preps, the fall offers a unique look at Thoroughbred racing’s current and future stars and 18 stakes races total worth $5.575 million.

And, if you look closely, you might spot a number of future Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Here’s a look at five great things about the Fall Meet (we know there are many more):

The 2-year-olds

The Fall Meet offers a chance to get a look at some outstanding 2-year-olds, some whose names might become much more familiar as the Road to the Kentucky Derby begins to take shape next year.

Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity will send the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which always gets the juices flowing about who among them could be Derby contenders.

The Breeders’ Cup will be held at Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3.

Last fall’s Futurity produced three Derby contenders, although none hit the board.

The 2016 Futurity produced the Juvenile champ and the Derby co-favorite in Classic Empire. And while he finished fourth at the Derby, fellow Futurity runner Lookin At Lee took second.

The 2007 Derby winner Street Sense finished third in the Futurity the previous fall.

For this year’s Futurity, two-time Derby winning trainer Todd Pletcher’s Sombeyay is among the probables and already has a graded stakes win on his resume. Other big-name trainers with horses nominated include Chad Brown, Dale Romans and Steve Asmussen.

In all, 14 juveniles are entered for the Futurity, perhaps headlined by Mind Control, trained by Gregory Sacco, and already a Grade 1 winner of the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last month.

Sunday’s $250,000, Grade 3 Dixiana Bourbon also saw its 2017 winner, Flameaway, go on to the Derby.

But future stars don’t come only out of the Grade 1 events. Animal Kingdom, the 2012 Derby winner, won his first race at Keeneland in a maiden-special weight in late October.

Also look to Friday’s $400,000, Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades, which will send a 2-year-old filly to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Lexington native Kenny McPeek saddles 3-1 morning-line favorite Restless Rider.

‘Win-and-you’re-in’

There are 10 “win-and-you’re-in” the Breeders’ Cup races during the Fall Meet, and nine of those are during “Fall Stars” weekend.

The biggest prize of the meet belongs to Saturday’s $1 million, Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, which will advance the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Brian Lynch-trained Heart to Heart is listed among the probables and would be making his third appearance in the Shadwell. Heart to Heart has two wins this year, including the Spring Meet’s Maker’s 46 Mile. Heart to Heart finished second in last fall’s Shadwell. He is seeking to become only the third horse to sweep the Maker’s 46 and the Shadwell in the same year.

Also Friday, in addition to the Darley Alcibiades: The $250,000, Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix sends the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Also Saturday, in addition to the Shadwell and the Futurity: The $400,000, Grade 1 First Lady sends the winner to the Filly and Mare Turf; and the $250,000, Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America sends the winner to the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Sunday, in addition to the Dixiana Bourbon: The $500,000, Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster sends the winner to the Distaff; The $200,000 Indian Summer sends the winner to the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Finally, on Wednesday the $200,000, Grade 2 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine will send its winner to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Jessamine moves up to a Grade 2 race this fall with an additional $50,000 in prize money.

College Scholarship Day

Keeneland has several promotions each meet, but not many as impactful as College Scholarship Day can be.

College students who register for the Oct. 12 event are eligible for one of 10 $1,000 scholarships and maybe one of two $10,000 Runhappy Scholarships presented in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.

Every college student gets free admission, food and prizes, but $1,000 is a nice win at the track and $10,000 can make a huge difference.

“I’m completely shocked. I don’t think I can process it,” said Laura Grueneberg, a UK senior after winning one of the two $10,000 scholarships last spring. “I just called my dad and he was like ‘No. What?’ And I had to repeat it three or four times because he just did not (understand). ‘What do you mean you just won $10,000?’”

Visit Keeneland.com for all the special promotions this fall.

Bet Keeneland for charity

Always wanted to try some exotic bets, but not sure how to go about it? Check out Keeneland’s Handicapper of the Day on Twitter @BetKeeneland.

Each day a different horse-playing expert will be staked to a fixed amount they can bet however they wish with proceeds benefiting the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

You’ll see how the experts try for the big scores on a budget with pick-4s, pick-5s, trifecta boxes and wheels and every other combination.

One of the biggest payouts for the Spring Meet came from a $15 exacta box by professional horseplayer Paul Matties Jr., which paid $1,717.25.

In all, the series raised $5,193,55 last meet.

This meet’s experts include Fox Sports racing analyst Gabby Gaudet, California handicapper and XBTV host Jeff Siegel, TVG host Scott Hazelton, retired jockey Richard Migliore, Thoroughbred Daily News senior editor Steve Sherack, and NBC and TVG reporter Britney Eurton.

The Hill

Every Friday and Saturday, Keeneland’s tailgate lot, “The Hill” becomes home to a giant jumbo screen where fans can enjoy both the live racing and live music, football, local food trucks and free shuttles to the grandstand.

Live bluegrass music will be performed from noon to 4 p.m. each Saturday and the opening Friday. All activities on The Hill are weather permitting.

Keeneland Fall Meet

When: Beginning Friday and continuing through Oct. 27, Wednesdays to Sundays.

Post time: 1:05 p.m. each race day (except Saturday when it will be 12:40 p.m.)

Admission: $5, children 12-under free

Parking: Free in designated lots

Online: Keeneland.com

Social media: Facebook: @Keeneland; Instagram: @Keeneland; Twitter: @KeenelandRacing

This story was originally published October 4, 2018 at 7:53 AM.