Keeneland: Mike Battaglia’s picks for Thursday’s races
Thursday, April 28
First post 1:05 p.m.
FIRST RACE—$19,000, Maiden Claiming, $20,000, 3-Year-Olds & Up, 1 1/8 miles
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Jazz Man | 116 | M. Murrill | 7-2 |
2 | Glory Kingdom | 116 | R. Albarado | 6-1 |
3 | Dynamo Ridge | 123 | J. Graham | 2-1 |
4 | Midnight Dance | 116 | J. Castellano | 3-1 |
5 | It’s All Copacetic | 116 | C. Lanerie | 9-2 |
6 | Glennevan | 123 | C. Hill | 8-1 |
Trainers: 1. J. Jones, 2. N. Pessin, 3. M. Stidham, 4. M. Maker, 5. K. McPeek, 6. D. Lukas.
DYNAMO RIDGE had a solid runner up finish here two weeks ago and appears to be in a good spot to get his maiden score this afternoon. MIDNIGHT DANCE comes off of a couple of decent efforts and is the one to beat. GLENNEVAN could add value to the gimmicks.
SECOND RACE—$22,000, Claiming, $20,000, 3-Year-Olds & Up, 1 1/16 miles, 1:39
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Kutuzov | 122 | F. Torres | 3-1 |
2 | Duval St. | 122 | R. Albarado | 5-2 |
3 | Spinning for Home | 122 | J. Graham | 10-1 |
4 | Scout Leader | 122 | J. Rocco | 3-1 |
5 | Fear the Kitten | 122 | C. Lanerie | 5-1 |
6 | Snickerboxer | 122 | S. Doyle | 6-1 |
7 | Bright House | 122 | R. Singh | 15-1 |
Trainers: 1. B. Flint, 2. D. Romans, 3. M. O’Donnell, 4. B. Cox, 5. L. Cotto, 6. J. Gaver III, 7. B. Porter.
DUVAL ST. faded after chasing the pace in a fast race on the Gulfstream turf. He can handle the move back to the dirt and rates the edge in here with Albarado picking up the mount for Dale Romans. KUTUZOV broke poorly last out and was never really in contention. A better start from the inside post could put him in front early and he could be tough to catch. SCOUT LEADER will be running late and has to be considered.
THIRD RACE—$19,000, Maiden Claiming, $20,000, 3-Year-Olds & Up Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs, 2:12
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Brendas Conquest | 122 | J. Gilligan | 15-1 |
2 | Tizthedream | 116 | C. Lanerie | 8-5 |
3 | Go Shine Miller | 116 | D. Cannon | 12-1 |
4 | Alittlebourbon | 116 | C. Sullivan | 15-1 |
5 | Thr Lvs and Me | 116 | A. De Leon | 10-1 |
6 | Humor Me Amy | 122 | S. Doyle | 10-1 |
7 | Duchess Bird | 116 | J. Bravo | 1-1 |
Trainers: 1. J. Girdley, 2. K. McPeek, 3. C. Smith, 4. G. Skinner, 5. N. Caruso, 6. A. Cohn, 7. N. Zito.
DUCHESS BIRD comes off of a runner up finish against similar company and looks like a solid bet to get the win for Nick Zito with Bravo back aboard. TIZTHEDREAM chased the top pick last out and should complete a short priced exacta. THREE LOVES AND ME looks best of the rest.
FOURTH RACE—$60,000, Maiden Special Weight, 3-Year-Olds Fillies, 1 1/2 miles (Turf), 2:45
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Main Asset | 120 | J. Lezcano | 4-1 |
2 | Texas Special | 120 | M. Murrill | 20-1 |
3 | Any Given Trace | 120 | F. Geroux | 4-1 |
4 | Bold Contender | 120 | J. Bravo | 5-2 |
5 | a-Pick Pocket | 120 | J. Castellano | 8-1 |
6 | a-Frisky Kitten | 120 | Hernandez | 8-1 |
7 | Diamonds for Leah | 120 | G. Stevens | 6-1 |
8 | b-Sight Reading | 120 | D. Van Dyke | 10-1 |
9 | b-Heron Watch | 120 | R. Albarado | 10-1 |
10 | American Cowgirl | 120 | J. Leparoux | 6-1 |
11 | Creative Thought | 120 | C. Landeros | 12-1 |
a,b-Coupled | ||||
Trainers: 1. W. Mott, 2. M. Stidham, 3. M. Casse, 4. E. Kenneally, 5. M. Maker, 6. J. Sharp, 7. K. McPeek, 8. P. Oliver, 9. P. Oliver, 10. W. Bradley, 11. G. Arnold, II.
DIAMONDS FOR LEAH was never in contention in her debut here five days ago but the winner drew off by 9 lengths in that one and she ran well to finish fourth. McPeek elects to run her back on short rest and Gary Stevens retains the mount. BOLD CONTENDER ran well in both of her races in Florida. She looks like the one to beat. MAIN ASSET exits the same race as Bold Contender and has to be considered. The big question in here is who can get the mile and a half.
FIFTH RACE—$50,000, Maiden Special Weight, 2-Year-Olds Fillies, 4 1/2 Furlongs, 3:18
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Already Feisty | 118 | L. Goncalves | 5-1 |
2 | Super Wonderful | 118 | C. Orm | 15-1 |
3 | China Grove | 118 | A. Jimenez | 5-1 |
4 | Mongolian Changa | 118 | A. Cox | 12-1 |
5 | Rhodium One | 118 | R. Hisby | 20-1 |
6 | Macy’s Attitude | 111 | Dominguez | 30-1 |
7 | Taglia | 118 | J. Rosario | 9-5 |
8 | Red Lodge | 118 | F. Geroux | 7-5 |
Trainers: 1. T. Young, 2. M. Hebert, 3. B. Colebrook, 4. W. Rice, 5. M. Castaneda, 6. T. Short, 7. W. Ward, 8. W. Ward.
RED LODGE is one of two in here for Wesley Ward. She looked like a winner in her debut but Garcia failed to see Hey Mike and Castellano who closed very strongly on the rail. She will be tough to catch today. TAGLIA is also trained by Ward and posted a bullet work here on Sunday. CHINA GROVE is training sharply for Ben Colebrook.
SIXTH RACE—$24,000, Claiming, $16,000, 4-Year-Olds & Up, One Mile, 3:51
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Most Wanted | 118 | O. Mayta | 30-1 |
2 | Wildwoodsgreatest | 118 | J. Leparoux | 5-1 |
3 | Sayler’s Creek | 118 | J. Castellano | 2-1 |
4 | Copse | 118 | Bridgmohan | 5-1 |
5 | Yukon Sky | 118 | R. Albarado | 5-1 |
6 | Quiet Man | 118 | C. Lanerie | 10-1 |
7 | Glad Cat | 118 | J. McKee | 12-1 |
8 | Ol Army | 120 | J. Graham | 8-1 |
9 | Sideways Vision | 118 | M. Pedroza | 6-1 |
Trainers: 1. J. Lopez, 2. D. Vance, 3. M. Maker, 4. C. Brownfield III, 5. M. Scherer, 6. C. Richard, 7. T. Drury Jr., 8. I. Mason, 9. T. Glyshaw.
SAYLER'S CREEK prefers the turf but he did break his maiden on the dirt at Churchill. Ramsey/Maker drop him in for a tag for the first time in two years and he can win at this level. YUKON SKY beat several of these same horses last out and will be tough again today. OL ARMY was well beaten by Yukon Sky but was claimed by Ingrid Mason who does well with her first claims.
SEVENTH RACE—$64,000, Allowance, 4-Year-Olds & Up, 1 1/16 miles, (Turf), 4:24
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Munjaz | 118 | J. Bravo | 9-2 |
2 | Calm Pacific | 118 | J. Court | 15-1 |
3 | Tuba | 118 | L. Goncalves | 30-1 |
4 | Blarp | 118 | Hernandez | 6-1 |
5 | Sky Hero | 118 | J. Leparoux | 5-2 |
6 | Granny’s Kitten | 118 | J. Castellano | 7-2 |
7 | Pyjama Party | 118 | C. Lanerie | 12-1 |
8 | Any Given Royal | 118 | J. Graham | 8-1 |
9 | Town Extension | 118 | P. Lopez | 6-1 |
10 | Chapter Two | 118 | Bridgmohan | 20-1 |
Trainers: 1. K. McLaughlin, 2. G. Hofmans, 3. A. Smith, 4. J. Sharp, 5. M. Casse, 6. M. Maker, 7. C. Murphy, 8. B. Lynch, 9. S. Asmussen, 10. A. McKeever.
GRANNYS KITTEN was well beaten in his 4 year old debut but has to need that race. He has been training well since then and his last work was a bullet here on Sunday. Maker figures to have him ready to go today and he gets the edge. SKY HERO has been off since September but he has been working very well both here and on the turf at Palm Meadows. He is the one to beat. BLARP has proven to be a good claim for Joe Sharp and has to be consdered.
EIGHTH RACE—$50,000, Maiden Special Weight, 2-Year-Olds Fillies, 4 1/2 Furlongs, 4:57
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Makealittlelove | 118 | J. Castellano | 3-1 |
2 | Adalzara | 118 | C. Hill | 20-1 |
3 | Desert Maria | 118 | M. Pedroza | 20-1 |
4 | Divine Humor | 118 | R. Albarado | 8-1 |
5 | Shltwee’s Gmble | 118 | C. Orm | 20-1 |
6 | Cold Hearted Pearl | 118 | F. Torres | 6-1 |
7 | Conquest Bandido | 118 | F. Geroux | 3-1 |
8 | Lightning Dove | 118 | J. Rosario | 9-5 |
Trainers: 1. M. Maker, 2. M. Lightner, 3. A. Macias, 4. E. Reed, 5. M. Evans II, 6. W. Helmbrecht, 7. M. Casse, 8. W. Ward.
LIGHTNING DOVE debuts for Wes Ward so I'm picking her on top. COLD HEARTED PEARL caught the clockers eye with her last work and could be ready to run well. MAKEALITTLELOVE also had a good work and Maker won with his only two year old starter this meet.
NINTH RACE—$64,000, Allowance, 4-Year-Olds & Up, 1 1/16 miles (Turf), 5:30
PP | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Odds |
1 | Hoochie Poochie | 118 | O. Mayta | 30-1 |
2 | One Go All Go | 118 | R. Hisby | 5-1 |
3 | Vici | 118 | Hernandez | 8-1 |
4 | Sly Tom | 118 | J. Graham | 9-2 |
5 | War Envoy | 118 | P. Lopez | 9-5 |
6 | Batten the Hatches | 118 | F. Torres | 20-1 |
7 | Bourbon Happens | 118 | F. Geroux | 15-1 |
8 | Harmonic | 118 | R. Albarado | 12-1 |
9 | Billy’s Star | 118 | J. Velazquez | 4-1 |
10 | Prince Gagarin | 118 | J. Leparoux | 12-1 |
Trainers: 1. L. Jurado, 2. P. Matejka, 3. A. Stall Jr., 4. B. Lynch, 5. W. Ward, 6. J. Barkley, 7. C. LoPresti, 8. B. Walsh, 9. R. Attfield, 10. M. Matz.
WAR ENVOY made his 4 year old debut in Barbados finishing third in the Barbados Gold Cup. He has been training well since returning to Ky. and his best would make him a winner in this one. VICI has shown improvement since moving to the grass and has the tactical speed to be in good position throughout. He could be tough to catch in here. BILLYS STAR is a definite threat.
This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Keeneland: Mike Battaglia’s picks for Thursday’s races."