The Keeneland fall meeting gets underway on Friday afternoon with an outstanding ten race card that features a pair of graded stakes.
Concluded the first three days of the meeting, there will be ten graded stakes, nine of which are Breeders’ Cup betting Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, including today’s pair of stakes.
The $175,000 Phoenix (G3) drew a strong participants of eleven runners who liking start six furlongs over the polytrack surface.
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The winner earns an robot starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.
Warrior’s Reward is the 5/2 morning line favorite, but has only made one career start over a synthetic surface, a fifth position finish in the Perryville (G3) at Keeneland last fall.
The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) drew a field of eight two-year-old fillies, with a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov 5 up for grabs.
Wickedly Perfect ships in from Southern California for the Doug O’Neill barn. The filly won the Sorrento (G3) in August and most recently was second in the Darley Debutante (G1) on Sept. 4.
Wonderlandbynight and Jordy Y, the top two finishers in the Arlington Washington Lassie (G3) at Arlington Car park figure to garner plenty of action at the horse betting windows as well.
Both of the races will be televised live on ESPN 2 in a one-hour telecast that gets underway at 3:30 ET.
Keeneland Race 8 The Phoenix G3 (4:45 ET)
#9 Ez Dreamer 6/1
#7 Hollywood Hit 4/1
#5 Warrior’s Reward 5/2
#11 Canonize 4/1
Analysis: #9 Ez Utopian was a game third in this course last year, beaten justifiable 3/4 of a length for the top spot. It was his first try on the fake stuff, and while he does not seem to be coming into this year’s race in the same silhouette, he did get a useful prep out of a runner up put the final touches on carry on replaced at Zia Store, which was off identically a three month break. Two requital he was sixth in the Iowa Sprint Handicap, which turned out to be a good field. The champion was Majesticperfection, who returned to win the A.G. Vanderbilt (G1) in impressive style at Saratoga on Aug. 8, but an injury has knocked him out of contention for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Our top pick should move hurry and if he takes to the poly like he did last year he fits well here and the price should be right.
#7 Hollywood Hit is coming off a win at Woodbine in the King Corrie, although he on the other hand had to clobber three foes in the deed. He has now won seven of 13 career starts and 5 of 7 over the polytrack. The gelding owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and could shake loose here, but it’s important to see how this surface is playing today, as speed frequently does not hold well.
#5 Warrior’s Reward has been facing tougher and is coming dippy a fourth place finish in the Forego (G1) at the Spa. He won the Carter Handicap (G1) four back prevailing seven furlongs, but he is wounding back to six here. His lone go on the counterfeit stuff was a fifth part finish in the Perryville (G3) here last fall. A tough call because I his running style for this surface and he should get a good pace, but does he yen to go throughout poly? In addition, the price is going to be on the light side.

