Month: October 2024

Week 1 is in the books at Keeneland and we don’t have any coal to show for it. Time to change that today. Let’s Ride.

Race 5: 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) F.Mdn 100k

*Gullet Shot of the Day #9 Runaway Kitten (15/1) – This filly moved into the John Ortiz barn last time and ran better than it looks sprinting with a poor trip. She was bumped and checked hard at the break and then ran evenly behind a slow pace. Now she stretches out to a route for the first time against a very weak group on paper. Santana will use her early speed to give her a good trip, and Conductor is salivating at her price. This filly is live.

Race 6: 1 1/16 Mile. Mdn 100k

#7 Freaky (8/1) – This colt was working bullets entering his debut at Saratoga. He broke slow that day and the Conductor will ignore that effort. It was too bad to be believed and the Conductor think Freaky has talent. This is a weak field with a vulnerable favorite in #8 Kinetic Control (8/5). The Conductor is looking for a horse with upside.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 110000n1x

#10 El Rey Rey (30/1) – #1 Green Light (5/2) is clearly the horse to beat in this field. However, after him this race is wide open. El Rey Rey has run some solid races routing in California and got a nice prep sprinting for the new barn last time. Stretching back out in distance, the Conductor sees this colt running a career best effort in his 2nd start for Eric Foster.

Frustrating Saturday for the Conductor at Keeneland. Coal supply is dwindling. We don’t want a big day, we need one. Skip.

Race 3: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Mdn 100k

#2 One Happy Island (20/1) – This filly ran well in her turf debut sprinting last time with a poor trip. She was forced to check and still finished strong behind a slow pace. Now with a nice inside draw, she has major upside stretching out to a route for the first time. This race is wide open and One Happy Island is bred to improve going long on the lawn. She can light up the tote.

Race 5: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) Alw 130000b

*Gullet Shot of the Day #1 Hedwig (8/1) – This gelding had obvious trouble last time, unable to find room to run in the stretch. He was well bet in that G1 and is the only horse in this field that has proven he can sit off the pace and finish. This race is loaded with early pace and Hedwig should sit a perfect stalking trip. As long as Saez can find him a seam this time, he’s going to save the Conductor’s weekend.

Race 9: 1 1/8 Mile. F.G1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes

#1 Idiomatic (3/5) – Unfortunately, nothing creative for the Conductor here. This mare lost at short price last time, but that was still one of her best races to date. She pressed a scorching pace and was just nailed at the wire. There isn’t much speed in this race and the Conductor can’t envision a scenario where she loses. Take the free square.

Not a great start Friday for the Conductor at Keeneland. However, make sure you listen to the podcast where the Conductor discusses additional races and contenders. There were some golden nuggets in there yesterday. We have quite the Saturday of racing ahead of us today. Quality racing from coast to coast. God Bless America. Skip.

Race 7: 6 Furlongs. F.G2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes

#7 Brightwork (2/1) – This filly was highly touted at Saratoga for the way she was working in the mornings. She didn’t disappoint in her return to the races there, finishing off a Phillip Bauer rocket in the stretch. Now making her 2nd start as a 3-year-old, the Conductor sees her dominating this field. She’s undefeated sprinting and a very talented filly.

Race 8: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.G1 First Lady Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Special Wan (20/1) – This is a great betting race, where you can make a case for many contenders. One thing is for certain, this race will have a wicked early pace. There are too many speed horses in here for one of the classy closers not to get the job done. The price the Conductor likes best is this European invader. She made her first start in the US last time and won nicely after a slow break, closing strongly behind a moderate pace. She’s yet to miss the board in her career and the Conductor doesn’t think the Chad Brown crop of Americans are anything special. Let’s get this bomb home in the First Lady.

Race 10: 1 Mile. (Turf) Turf Mile Stakes

#3 More Than Looks (3/1) – The Conductor was impressed with this colt’s comeback effort off the bench last time. He was rank early and fought the rider the entire way leading into the first turn. Despite expending all that wasted energy early, he sill rallied for 2nd behind a slow pace. Now making his 2nd start as a 4-year-old, he looks primed to run his best. With a nice inside draw, More Than Looks should get an ideal trip here.

Happy opening day at Keeneland passengers. Hope everyone brought their shovels. No bourbon allowed until the caboose is overflowing with coal. Skip.

Race 3: 7 Furlongs. F.Mdn 100k

#11 Upon a Star (9/5) – This filly will be the first of potentially many winners for Brad Cox today. She ran faster than the rest of these back in February without an ideal trip. She’s been working bullets leading up to this race and is older and stronger now. The Conductor sees her beating this group like a drum.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.G2 Jessamine Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #1 Shezafunkydrummer (8/1) – First time turf last time, this filly was game after a poor start. She pressed a quick pace and galloped out in front of her rival after she did not like being passed in the stretch. Trainer Larry Revelli is 32% on the year with runners 2nd off a layoff and Shezafunkydrummer gets a nice inside draw today. She has already proven that she can win on the dirt sitting off the pace and she looks to get a perfect pocket trip here. She’ll be the key to the Conductor’s Friday.

Race 10: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.Alw 130000b

#11 Amidst Waves (12/1) – Off a little bit of a break last time, this filly had a terrible trip in a Grade 2 race at Kentucky Downs. She was wide behind a slow pace and didn’t have any chance. She finally takes a class drop today, after facing stakes company ever since her maiden score. Amidst Waves is stakes placed over this Keeneland turf course and gets a top rider today with Prat aboard. The Weaver barn is starting to heat up a bit after an ice-cold Saratoga meet.

#4 Tambo (6/1) – This filly has shown ability sprinting on the dirt in California. Now she switches to turf, after moving into the Deveaux barn. Deveaux is 26% on the year with a plus $3.23 ROI with runners for the first time. Tambo’s breeding doesn’t scream turf, but she ran well in her one turf stakes race at Del Mar. She pressed a hot pace and going a mile and didn’t quit. She has upside on the turf for top connections vs an average field.