(Keeneland morning / Coady Photography)

From the Keeneland Media Team:

KEENELAND LISTS PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR OPENING WEEKEND STAKES

A week before the opening of Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet, fields are beginning to take shape for the April 8-10 weekend that will feature 10 stakes worth $4.55 million.

According to Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare, eight colts are considered probable entrants for the 98th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 9 and six fillies are considered likely starters in the 85th running of the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on opening day.

Topping the list of Toyota Blue Grass probable entrants is Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in November and runner-up in the Risen Star (G2) Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds in his lone 2022 start.

Repole Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest, winner of the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct last fall and the Suncoast (L) at Tampa Bay Downs to open 2022, tops the list of Central Bank Ashland probable entrants.

April 8 races. Entries taken Tuesday.

$600,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) – Awake At Midnyte (trainer Doug O’Neill), Cocktail Moments (Kenny McPeek), Happy Soul (Wesley Ward), Interstatedaydream (Brad Cox), Miss Mattie B (Bob Hess Jr.), Nest (Todd Pletcher).

$400,000 KENTUCKY UTILITIES TRANSYLVANIA (G3) – Coinage (Mark Casse), Credibility (Casse). Possible:Freedom’s Way (Eddie Kenneally), Red Danger (Brian Lynch).

$400,000 LAFAYETTE – Home Brew (Brad Cox), Ignitis (D. Wayne Lukas), Surfer Dude (Dallas Stewart), Tejano Twist (Bret Calhoun), Unified Report (Stewart). Possible: My Prankster (Todd Pletcher).

April 9 races. Entries taken Wednesday.

Keeneland will livestream the post position draw for the Toyota Blue Grass on Keeneland.com and Keeneland’s YouTube channel beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET.

 

$1 MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS (G1) – Emmanuel (Todd Pletcher), Ethereal Road (D. Wayne Lukas), Fenwick (David Fisher), Golden Glider (Mark Casse), Grantham (Mike Maker), Smile Happy (Kenny McPeek), Volcanic (Casse), Zandon (Chad Brown). Possible: Blackadder (Rodolphe Brisset).

$500,000 MADISON (G1) – Bell’s the One (Neil Pessin), Center Aisle (Paulo Lobo), Cilla (Brett Brinkman), Club Car (Ben Colebrook), Just One Time (Brad Cox), Kimari (Wesley Ward), Lady Rocket (Cox).

$400,000 APPALACHIAN (G2) PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION – Ouraika (FR) (Graham Motion), Spendarella (Motion), Trobairitz (Neil Pessin).

$350,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) – Barraza (Vladimir Cerin), Beer Can Man (Phil D’Amato), Chess Master (Kerri Ravin), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (Mark Casse), Gear Jockey (Rusty Arnold), Just Might (Michelle Lovell), Natural Power (IRE) (Jeff Hiles).

$300,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) – Long Range Toddy (Dallas Stewart), O Besos (Greg Foley). Possible: Aloha West (Wayne Catalano).

April 10 races. Entries taken Thursday.

$400,000 BEAUMONT (G3) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT – Matareya (Brad Cox).

$200,000 PALISADES (L) – Circle Back Jack (Sarah Hamilton).

 

KIMARI, O BESOS WORK FOR OPENING SATURDAY STAKES

Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Kimari, winner of last year’s Madison (G1), on Friday tuned up for a possible repeat bid in next Saturday’s 21st running of the $500,000 race by working 6 furlongs in company in 1:14.80 over a fast track for trainer Wesley Ward. Kimari is undefeated in three Keeneland starts.

The Madison is a 7-furlong race on the main track.

Also on Friday morning, Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry Stephens’ O Besosworked a sharp half-mile in :47.60 after the renovation break in preparation for next Saturday’s 35th running of the $300,000 Commonwealth (G3) going 7 furlongs over the main track.

“I just wanted him to get a trip over the track,” trainer Greg Foley said of O Besos, who produced fractions of :12, :23, :35.20 and :47.60 with a 5-furlong gallop-out time of 1:00.40. Exercise rider Lorenzo Rivera was aboard.

The move was the fourth fastest of 26 at the distance.

Fifth across the finish line in last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve, O Besos ran second in the Matt Winn (G3) four weeks after the Derby but did not run again until Jan. 2 when he won an allowance at Fair Grounds.

“He was asking for a break and he got it,” Foley said of the time off.

Fourth in the Mineshaft (G3) in his most recent start, O Besos will be cutting back to a sprint distance for the first time in more than a year.

“I feel like he will like the one turn,” Foley said. “Irad (Ortiz Jr.) will ride him.”

GALLOPING OUT

Joining the Keeneland jockey colony this spring will be Vincent Cheminaud. The 28-year-old native of France spent some time at Fair Grounds this winter and has relocated to Kentucky, where his book will be handled by Steve Bass.

Cheminaud, who has had a handful of mounts at Turfway Park since coming to Kentucky, has one North American victory on his resume. That was aboard Flintshire (GB) in the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga in 2015 for longtime supporter Andre Fabre.

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