It promises to be a huge weekend of racing action at Keeneland this weekend, with some huge graded action taking place. We will break down three of the most exciting races taking place at Keeneland, and find the best value in the markets with the leading horse racing betting sites in the United States.
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (Grade 2)
The first race that we will look at is the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. This race is for the fillies and mares that are three and older and is run over short distance of six furlongs. Six runners have declared for this race, with Bell’s The One likely to go off the favourite.
Bell’s The One has been consistent throughout the season, with two wins and two seconds from four starts. She won the G2 Honorable Miss Handicap in July, before returning after a short break away from the track to finish second in the Open Mind Stakes.
Estilo Talentoso and Frank’s Rockette are likely to be her two main rivals, and we like the chances of the latter for trainer William Mott. The four-year-old has won twice this season, and has failed to finish outside the top three in all five starts. Her wins have come in the American Beauty and Saylorville Stakes, and was impressive again when third in the Seeking the Pearl.
Pick: Frank’s Rockette
First Lady Stakes (Grade 1)
The first of the Grade 1 races on the card is a very competitive First Lady Stakes. Once again, it will be for the fillies and mares with a distance of one mile travelled in this race on the turf.
Chad Brown has an excellent record in this race, and he has two very serious contenders in the form of Regal Glory and Blowout. Out of the two, we prefer Blowout, who will have Flavien Prat on board this weekend. The five-year-old was the winner of the G2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes in May, and returned after three months away with a fine fourth in the G1 Fourstardave.
Our preference in this race though is for Athiqa for Charlie Appleby. The four-year-old has been in red hot form since being shipped to the United States, and has won back-to-back Grade 1s. The first of those was in the Just A Game, before she was very impressive in July, claiming victory in the Diana.
Pick: Athiqa
Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes (Grade 1)
The final race that we will look at is the Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes, which is run over a mile for horses aged three and upward. A very talented field will go to post for this race, including last year’s winner Ivar.
Field Pass could be an interesting contender in this wide-open contest, as he won the Grade 3 International Turf Cup Stakes in July, and has some strong form at Keeneland, including a fourth in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile. In Love is another with a lively outside chance for the trainer that won this 12 months ago.
Space Traveller is another that we like for Brendan Walsh, who has finished fourth and second in Grade 1 races since moving to America from the United Kingdom. Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order of Australia is also an entrant here, who has very obvious claims, having won the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in France last time.
Pick: Order of Australia
Place: Field Pass
