Keeneland Barn Notes: Ashland Stakes First 2 Will Head to Kentucky Oaks

(Percy’s Bar wins the G1 Ashland at Keeneland on Friday / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:

• CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND ONE-TWO FINISHERS PERCY’S BAR, ZANY BOUND FOR KENTUCKY OAKS
• UK HEALTHCARE TRANSYLVANIA TOP FOUR COULD REUNITE
  IN $1 MILLION AMERICAN TURF
• REMAINING FRIDAY STAKES WINNERS RETURN TO CHURCHILL DOWNS
• GALLOPING OUT
• LUSH LIPS (GB), BROWN DUO TOP FIELD OF 10 FOR JENNY WILEY
• STONESTREET LEXINGTON DRAWS FIELD OF 11
• PROSPECTIVE FIELD FOR UPCOMING STAKES
• OPENING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

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CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND ONE-TWO FINISHERS PERCY’S BAR, ZANY
BOUND FOR KENTUCKY OAKS

Hat Creek Racing’s Percy’s Bar exited her 2¼-length victory over favored Zany in Friday’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) in good order with the next stop being the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 1.

“She will have all her works here,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “She’s a Keeneland horse and she has already won at Churchill. We will wait until the last second to when we have to be there.”

Percy’s Bar received a ground-saving trip from jockey Luan Machado and came through a narrow opening approaching the top of the stretch to spurt clear and open enough daylight to fend off Zany.

“You could see that Luan was loaded, but I was concerned with the :50 (second half-mile) with a quality filly of (Mark) Casse’s (French Friction) on an unopposed lead and the short stretch,” Colebrook said. “I thought Zany was going to get the jump on us, so that was definitely the move.”

Colebrook praised Percy’s Bar’s courage to make her move in tight quarters along the rail.

“The last time she ran (in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies-G1), she got bounced off the rail pretty good,” Colebrook said. “It took a lot of courage to stick her head in there and when she did, she just shot right on through.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Repole Stable’s Zany came out of the race in good order and a decision on where she would train for the Oaks “would be made this morning after talking with Mr. (Mike) Repole.”

“I thought she ran a good race and galloped out well,” Pletcher said. “The winner ran a good race and cut the corner on us (at the top of the stretch).”

Pletcher has won the Oaks four times, trailing only Woody Stephens and D. Wayne Lukas with five for the most all time. His first win came with Ashado in 2004 and was followed by Rags to Riches (2007), Princess of Sylmar (2013) and Malathaat (2021).

UK HEALTHCARE TRANSYLVANIA TOP FOUR COULD REUNITE
IN $1 MILLION AMERICAN TURF

The top four finishers in Friday’s UK HealthCare Transylvania (G3), who were separated by a length at the wire, could meet again in Louisville on May 2 in the $1 million American Turf (G1).

Trainer Cherie DeVaux reported that C R K Stable’s undefeated Remember Mamba exited his latest victory in good order and she and the owners would consider the race.

Legion Racing and Awestrike Racing’s Honey Dutch finished second a half-length in back of Remember Mamba. Trainer Whit Beckman said, “the American Turf is definitely on the radar for him.”

JDT Racing’s Vasy (IRE), a neck back of Honey Dutch in third, “is fine this morning,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “We’ll see (about the American Turf).”

Midway Racing’s Street Beast, who set the pace before yielding late, was transported back to trainer Ben Colebrook’s barn by equine ambulance after finishing fourth.

“He had a little cut on his hind leg and there was a little blood,” Colebrook said. “He’s A-OK this morning and the American Turf is a possibility.”

REMAINING FRIDAY STAKES WINNERS RETURN TO CHURCHILL DOWNS

Double 22 Stables’ A Fine Chardonnay returned to trainer Ian Wilkes barn at Churchill Downs Friday night after her victory in the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont (G2). Wilkes said the $700,000 Eight Belles (G2) Presented by Sysco on May 1 going 7 furlongs is a possibility for her next start.

Also returning to Churchill Friday night was Donamire Farm’s Trouble Calling, winner of the Lafayette (L). Trainer Greg Foley indicated the $750,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) Presented by SAP on May 2 as the next target for Trouble Calling.

GALLOPING OUT

Pietro Moran, who won the 2025 Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice, made his Keeneland debut in the first race on Friday’s opening day and rode owner/trainer Wesley Ward’s Suspicions to a 2-length victory in the 4½-furlong race for 2-year-olds. Time over a sloppy track was :52.74.

LUSH LIPS (GB), BROWN DUO TOP FIELD OF 10 FOR JENNY WILEY

Dixiana Farms’ Lush Lips (GB), winner of last fall’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, and trainer Chad Brown’s Grade 1-winning duo of Dynamic Pricing (IRE) and Segesta headline a field of 10 fillies and mares entered Saturday for the 38th running of the $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1).

Run at 1 1/16 miles on the grass, the Jenny Wiley will go as the ninth race on Saturday, April 11 on with a 5:16 p.m. post time. First post for the 11-race card is 1 p.m.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Lush Lips brings a three-race win streak into the Jenny Wiley with victories coming in the Mrs. Revere (G2) and the Honey Fox (G3) Presented by MyRacehorse following the Queen Elizabeth II score. Tyler Gaffalione, who has been aboard for those wins, has the mount from post 7 on Lush Lips, who breezed a half-mile over a firm turf course in :50.60 Saturday morning.

Brown, who has won the Jenny Wiley seven times, brings Segesta and Dynamic Pricing back to Keeneland for their 2026 debuts.

Juddmonte’s homebred Segesta, winner of the Matriarch (G1) to close 2025, finished second here last fall in the First Lady (G1). Flavien Prat has the mount from post 10.

Klaravich Stables’ Dynamic Pricing, winner of last year’s Just a Game (G1) Presented by Resolute Racing, closed her 2025 campaign with a seventh-place finish as the favorite in the First Lady. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 5.

Another filly riding a three-race win streak is Steve Landers Racing’s Destino d’Oro. Trained by Brad Cox, Destino d’Oro has rebounded from an eighth-place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II to take the Tropical Park Oaks (L), the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Hillsborough (G2).

Junior Alvarado, who has been aboard for the past two victories, has the mount from post 8.

Field for the $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1)
4-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
Race 9, 5:16 p.m.

STONESTREET LEXINGTON DRAWS FIELD OF 11

Steve Landers Racing’s Confessional, third in the recent Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County, tops a field of 11 3-year-olds entered Saturday for the 44th running of the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) for 3-year-olds going a mile and a sixteenth on the main track.

The Stonestreet Lexington will go as the 10th race Saturday, April 11 on the 11-race program with a 5:48 p.m. post time. First post is 1 p.m.

The final stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Stonestreet Lexington offers 42 qualifying points to the Run for the Roses on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale for the first- through fifth-place finishers. The Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners and invitees that pass the entry box April 25.

Going into this afternoon’s three Kentucky Derby preps, the cut line stands at 36 points. Confessional, trained by Brad Cox, is the top entrant in the Stonestreet Lexington with 15 points.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 10.

Field for the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3)
3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, Race 10, 5:48 p.m.

PROSPECTIVE FIELD FOR UPCOMING STAKES

Entries taken Tuesday. Race is Sunday, April 12.

$400,000 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (G2) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT – Bourbon Memory (trainer Brendan Walsh), Creed’s Gold (Mark Casse), Gratefully (Robert Falcone Jr.), Me Governor (Carlos David), Pondering (Walsh), Saratoga Special (IRE) (Richard Baltas), Shining Star (CHI) (Brad Cox), Time to Dazzle (Casse), Twirling Queen (Jose D’Angelo). Possible: In Our Time (Saffie Joseph Jr.), Italian Soiree (Graham Motion), Love Cervere (Miguel Clement), Movin’ On Up (Joseph), Pandora’s Gift (IRE) (Clement).

OPENING SATURDAY SPECIAL EVENTS

Keeneland has been investing in the horse industry and the Central Kentucky community since it began racing in October 1936. Throughout the 2026 Spring Meet, special events at the track will benefit worthwhile organizations, while other activities will educate and entertain racing fans.

Year-round

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

Keeneland Library exhibit. Located on Keeneland’s campus, Keeneland Library is presenting the free exhibit Raices: The Making of Latino Legacies in Racing, a landmark bilingual showcase and education initiative that highlights 100 trailblazing Latino men and women whose contributions have shaped Thoroughbred racing and breeding from the late 1800s to today. Raices is Spanish for roots.

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.

Saturday

The Keeneland Shop. Located near the Grandstand South entrance, 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.

Today, Milliners Corner will feature Christine A. Moore. The East Plaza will host Darren K. Moore.

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). Fans can watch the racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered.

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.

For fans who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland again is partnering with RevelXP to offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. RevelXP will organize tailgates by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more.

KEENELAND IS CLOSED FOR RACING
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 5 FOR EASTER