We are back for another week of exciting racing action and we’re leading things off with a Keeneland race card for Wednesday where we expect partly cloudy conditions, a fast main track and a firm turf course. Let’s dig in..
Wednesday picks for Keeneland:
Race 1: Diva Banker - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 5/2)
A fun little Starter Allowance race here for fillies and mares at 6 furlongs and this race is likely to feature a blistering pace. To me there are two main contenders here. Only Reward’s and Diva Banker with the latter being our selection. Diva Banker was claimed in January for $5,000 by trainer Ray Handel. She was subsequently given some time off before returning in April where she hopped at the start and finished 7th after pressing the pace. From there she returned with back-to-back wins at long odds - which prompted her connections to try their luck with her in a stakes race for NY Breds where she finished 5th. Still a pretty nice turnaround from a $5,000 claim running in a $97,000 stakes race a few months later. Many trainers might keep their horse in NY to run through her NY conditions but Handel thought enough of her to bring her to Keeneland and he enters here in a spot where he can’t lose her (she’s earned him $70k since the $5,000 claim so I don’t blame him). Diva Banker has shown the ability to win from off and on the pace and I think this race sets up nicely for her.
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Race 4: Kitten’s Man - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 15/1)
This one takes a little creativity but here goes. This is our second Starter Allowance sprint of the day and our main contenders are all speed types. Machismo, Beverly Park and even Cove Blue all prefer to run on or near the lead. Kitten’s Man has closed from off the pace before and he might be a little short on class but he interests me here nevertheless. Trainer Joe Sharp claimed this one for $20k last out off a good finish 3rd at 35/1 on turf. Sharp wins with 16% of runners first off a claim and wins with 20% of runners when he adds blinkers to those recent claims like he’s doing today. This one also runs with the benefit of Lasix for the first time and will have the services of the meet’s leading rider - Tyler Gaffalione. I like the fact that his new trainer entered Kitten’s Man in a race he can’t lose him to a claim and I look for a strong effort from off the pace after posting a career high speed figure. Value at 15/1 or higher.
Best of luck to everyone playing Wednesday’s races from Keeneland!