Keeneland Barn Notes: Percy’s Bar Gets Final Work Before G1 KY Oaks

(Percy’s Bar / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

• PERCY’S BAR ‘PERFECT’ IN FINAL TUNE-UP FOR KENTUCKY OAKS
• TOYOTA BLUE GRASS THIRD-PLACE FINISHER TALKIN PREPARING AT KEENELAND FOR PREAKNESS
• SPECIAL EVENTS
• SPRING MEET LEADERS

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PERCY’S BAR ‘PERFECT’ IN FINAL TUNE-UP FOR KENTUCKY OAKS

Hat Creek’s Racing’s Percy’s Bar, winner of the Central Bank Ashland (G1) on opening day of the Spring Meet, had her final workout for the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) by going a half-mile in :49.60 over a fast track at Keeneland Thursday morning.

Click here for a video of the work.

With Luan Machado up and working in company with 3-year-old maiden Tregetour at 7:30 a.m. after the first renovation period, Percy’s Bar strategically started five lengths behind her stablemate — who was ridden by Machado’s brother and fellow jockey Dylan Machado. Percy’s Bar caught the gelding midway through the stretch before finishing on near-even terms. Tregetour’s final time was :50.60.

“Perfect — nice and easy,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “Just what we were looking for. She didn’t need to do much. When she gets behind a horse, she relaxes. Luan executed it pretty well.”

Percy’s Bar, named for the late popular Keeneland bartender Percy Poole, will ship to Churchill Downs Saturday morning for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks.

“She will walk on Friday, train first thing Saturday morning at Keeneland and head to Churchill,” Colebrook said. “She won’t do much at Churchill. Probably just gallop, go to the gate to stand, go to the paddock to school and that will be it.”

As is Colebrook’s routine, Percy’s Bar left from his Rice Road barn and went across the training track and through the Paddock prior to her exercise.

“I like to get my horses warmed up and let them go through the Saddling Paddock every day,” he said. “It gets them loosened up and gives them extra time out of their stalls.”

TOYOTA BLUE GRASS THIRD-PLACE FINISHER TALKIN PREPARING
AT KEENELAND FOR PREAKNESS

After checking in third in the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 4, Talkin has remained at Keeneland to prepare for the Preakness (G1) on May 16 at Laurel Park. He is one of seven horses at Keeneland for trainer Danny Gargan, whose stable winters in Florida before relocating to Belmont Park and Saratoga for the rest of the year.

“Right now, we are in kind of a transition where we are shipping,” Gargan said. “We’ll keep these horses here until we go to Maryland. Two or three will go to Maryland for Preakness weekend and then they will go to Saratoga, where we mainly train. Talkin came out of the Blue Grass really good. He’s a super sound horse and is doing really well. I’ve always thought he was more of a Preakness- type horse, and I didn’t want to run in a 20-horse field (in the Kentucky Derby-G1 Presented by Woodford Reserve.)”

Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding and R.A. Hill Stable, Talkin was purchased at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Gargan and his team intentionally shop for horses suited for the Triple Crown races.

“Keeneland is where you have to buy them,” he said. “The better horses are here.”

Talkin’s potential was evident early as he learned his early lessons under saddle and he quickly fulfilled expectations.

“He showed a lot of promise as a 2-year-old (winning career debut at Saratoga in August),” Gargan said. “But he didn’t have a good trip (when second in the Champagne-G1 at Aqueduct in October).

After finishing unplaced in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct on Dec. 6, the son of 2018 Toyota Blue Grass winner Good Magic was given time off. He returned to action with a fifth-place finish in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 7 prior to his third in the Toyota Blue Grass.

Gargan noted that one of Talkin’s attributes is his quiet demeanor.

“He’s calm and cool and real laid back,” he said. “Nothing bothers him.”

SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Click here for availability and to purchase.

Keeneland Library is presenting the free exhibit Raices: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing, which highlights 100 trailblazing Latino men and women whose contributions have shaped Thoroughbred racing and breeding from the late 1800s to today.

The Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enter Keeneland at Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.

Friday — Closing Day

The Keeneland Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 30 minutes following the final race and on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On race days, Milliners Corner, Wagering Central and Finish Line locations will be open.

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for tailgating on The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o’ War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland). The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the final race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. The public is invited to attend this auction, which begins in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. Among the racehorses being offered is Trendsetter, winner of Keeneland’s Stonestreet Lexington (G3) on April 11. Free to attend. Concessions are available.

SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through April 22 (13 days of 15-day season)

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