Final Version: McLean’s Selections for Keeneland on Monday, April 7 — Comments Added

(Stats to be updated with final Turfway Winter / Spring numbers)

Here’s our looks for Monday’s card at Keeneland, which was originally scheduled to be held on Friday:

1st: 8-(13)/3-5-10-11-6/7-9…Trainer Wesley Ward has become the guru of the 2YO races, just like Bwamazon Farm formerly dominated these list of races. In this one, Ward comes calling with Pinky Finger (8), who is is ML favorite at 7-5 early odds. Daughter of Army Mule is working lights out over this track and the conditioner has won with .26% of the last 229 to make the first start. Look for this one, with Joel Rosario in the saddle, to be a tough out. If Ward’s other horse entered here, Double Talker (13), draws into the field, take note. Could mean the trainer is happy about this one, too. Has trained very well, as well. I bet the Ward Horse — #8 — to win and place — and then I will do the same with the #13 if that one draws in, too. If only one of them runs, I key the 8 or 13 over/under the 3-5-10-11-6 in the exactas. 

2nd: 6-3/1/7-5//8/2-4-9…Spaliday (6) gets the nod here if this one stays on the sod, which is highly unlikely considering the massive dump truck loads of rain that have spilled all over the Blue Grass in the last 4 days. This one has been over the sod 8 times in her life with a mark of 3 wins and 2 thirds. Has a third here, too. Warning. Has not run over anything but grass, to date. Probably a scratch if it comes off the turf. Pin Up Betty (3) is more likely to stay in the race and has good credentials, as well. In 8 grass races has 2 wins and 2 seconds. Has run over an “off track,” but came up empty. Last year, this one ran over the dirt at Aqueduct and ran a solid 2nd. Worth considering. I bet the 6 on the grass. I bet the 3 if it is moved to the dirt. 

3rd: 8/1-6-2-3/4/5/7…My first “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Lynn’s Milky Way (8). This daughter of Volatile comes in with two wins and a solid 2nd in the career’s first three races. Roll on to an 8-length win at Gulfstream Park last time out on Feb. 16. Super work on March 16. Look out here with Iran Ortiz, Jr. back up for the saddle job. I bet the 8 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 8 over/under the 1-6-2-3-4-5 in the exactas. More with the 1-6-2-3.

4th: (13)-5/7-10-12/1-2-6-11//9-(14)-(15)…This is the second turf race scheduled on the day and here’s hoping that the sun and wind dry the course out quickly and efficiently. If this one stays on the sod and she can draw in from the AE List, I go with Hideaway (13), for trainer Todd Pletcher. This one nearly pulled off the win in the career debut on March 2 at Gulfstream Park. Gets Irad back up here. If she does not get in, I will look to My Gal (5), who has posted two fast-closing 3rds in the first two career starts. Should be ready for this one off the layoff with the extended work schedule since February. Hereforagoodtime (11) may be the best of the lot if this one is moved to the dirt. I bet the 13-5 if they run on the sod. If not, I divert to the 11 and go that route. If off the sod? It is wide, wide, wide open.

5th: 11-9/1/2-3-6…Despite the outside post, I line up with Unwavering Trust (11), who hails from the Brad Cox barn. This 3YO daughter of Nyquist comes in off a nice 2nd in February at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Nearly won that career debut. Has worked well since that one. Look out here with Flavien Prat getting the call. I bet the 11 across the board and then double down on the win wager. I box the 11-9 sternly in the exactas. I will key the 11-9 over/under the 1-2-3-6 in two smaller units. 

6th: 6-7/3-9-11/10/8/2/5…Another turf race scheduled here. This one slated for the 1-mile distance. Looks like Oscar Season (6) could upset this crowd and, thus, he becomes my first “Longshot Play of the Day.” The 4YO Oscar Performance colt has won 2 of the first 4 outings and has never missed the board. Has been favored in each of the last 3 outings. Set at odds of 6-1 in this ML. Go figure. I like. El Rezeen (7) is another who figures prominently if this one stays on the soft green. Early won a G3 last time out in October. Threat. If moved? I go to Tough Little Nut (10). This one goes for a trainer who is sneaky good here. I bet the 6-7 across the board and then box these two, if on the grass. I go to the 10 if it comes off.

7th: 5/8-1-2/4/7/3…Lafayette Stakes…The second “Key Play of the Day” comes here with Gate to Wire (5). This 3YO son of Munnings goes for trainer Todd Pletcher and this one ran up the score, winning by 5 lengths in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1. Was stretched out to two turns for the first time in the FOY, and was steadied and tired in that one — running 5th and beaten 41/2 lengths by my top Kentucky Derby contender in Sovereignty. Back to sprinting here. If he is right? Look out. Could put these away, too. I bet the 5 across the board and double down on the win wager. I key the 5 over/under the 8-1-2-4-7. More with the 8-1-2 than the rest. 

8th: 11-1-(13)-3/10-8/2-6-9-4-7…G3 Transylvania Stakes…This is the grass Stakes event of the day and is scheduled to go 11/16-miles. Be interesting to see if the soft going has dried out enough to give the course a go. If so, it looks to me like Mi Bago (11) is the top pick. This one is pure speed and could get loose on the front end. Had a two-win streak snapped last time out in the Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Simply went to fast in the early stages of that one. But could be a tough out here. Has never run over an “off track.” Chasing Liberty (1) is a whopping 15-1 in the ML, and could have an issue converting to the dirt, too. But on grass? This one has 4 wins in 6 tries and those have come at 4 different tracks. Could pull the stunner here as my second “Longshot Play of the Day.” Good Afternoon (3) ran well over the slop at the Fair Grounds just two starts ago. May be the best if this one comes off the sod. If it stays on the grass, I go hard on the 11-1-13 or the 11-1-3. If it comes off, I may lean to the 3.

9th: 4-3-1/2-5/6/7-8…G1 Ashland Stakes…This is one of the last major preps for this year’s KY Oaks and it has attracted a very nice field, which, undoubtedly, will produce a challenger or two to Good Cheer in the “Run for the Lilies.” I go with Muhimma (4) in this spot. Daughter of Munnings won the first three career starts before getting some time off. Came back to run 3rd in the 2025 debut — when floated wide in the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23. Undoubtedly, she needed that race. Gets a new pilot here, too. Important fact. Flavien Prat, who has won with .29% of the last 17 outs for this part, gets his first try with this one. Could be a dream team. Supa Speed (3) ships in for trainer John Sadler. Nearly won the G3 Santa Ysable last tim out when trying the dirt for the first time. Got beat a nose as the even-money favorite. Prat takes off this one, but Rosario picks up the irons. Look Forward (1) is a whopping 20-1 in the ML. I love this one despite the poor showing in the Honeybee in the last outing. Bobbled at the start of that one and never recovered. Never. Toss it. Won the race before as the favorite in the Santa Ynez at Santa Anita. Has a shot. Longshot Play of the Day. Again. I bet the 4-1 across the board and then box these top 3 in the exactas. I will key the 4-1 over/under the 3-2-5-6 in two smaller units.

10th: (16)-11-8/(14)-7/6-(13)/(15)-9…Sherbini (16) gets the nod in the unlikely chance she draws into this one from the AE List. But this one could be real salty with the addition of Lasix coming next time out. Put this one in your stable mail. If she can’t manage to make the gate this time, I go with Golden Irish (11), for top trainer Tom Amoss. This one nearly won last time out and has a 14-length win over this track last October in her career debut. Horses for courses? I like this one. I bet the 16 if in. If not, I go with the 11 hard and hot. I box the 11-8 and then key the 11-8 over/under with the 16-14-7-6 -13 in two smaller versions

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene