Month: April 2025

Keeneland Tuesday Picks — April 8, 2025 | Best Bets & Turf Card Analysis

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Group of thoroughbred horses racing with jockeys in colorful silks on a grassy track.

Test Score wins nicely at 9/1 Monday and the train is back in motion. Keeneland turf doesn’t stand a chance under the Conductor’s watchful eye. All the races are back on the turf today. Props to the maintenance crew for having the lawn ready despite all the rain. Now we mow. Skip.

Race 2: 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) Mdn 110k

#7 Van Ginkel (8/1) – The Conductor likes this maiden race quite a bit with vulnerable favorites drawn to the outside. Van Ginkel ran better than it looks in his dirt debut last time closing well behind a slow pace. He’s bred for the turf and looks primed to run his best stretching out in distance too. This morning line is probably high with Prat aboard for Chad Brown, but 5/1 will work for the Conductor.

#3 Kicking Clear (15/1) – This longshot also has upside making his first start on turf. He’s bred to mow and has been steadily progressing with each start. He ran a strong late pace figure on the synthetic last time and looks to get a good trip today with a nice inside draw. Kicking Clear can light up the tote.

Race 5: 1 1/16 Mile. Mdn 110k

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Last Man Standing (9/2) – This colt had no business finishing 2nd in his debut last time with an abysmal trip. He’s working well off that effort and will get a much better ride here with Irad aboard. The Conductor expects Last Man standing to explode today.

Race 9: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) G2 Shakertown Stakes

#1 Run Carson (6/1) – There isn’t much speed in this turf sprint other than #10 Coppola (6/1). As long as Run Carson breaks well, he should sit a nice trip tracking the leader in 2nd. The Conductor likes the versatility he’s shown in his young career.

Race 10: 1 1/8 Mile. G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes

#6 Chancer McPatrick (7/2) – This colt ran well in his return off the bench last time. Although he finished a distant 2nd to #1 River Thames (5/2), that race was handed to him on the front end. River Thames will face more pace pressure today and Chancer McPatrick should sit a perfect trip. If he doesn’t get the job done today, it will be time to turn him back into a one turn closer.

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Keeneland Monday Picks — April 7, 2025 | Best Bets & Full Card Handicapping

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Two horses racing with jockeys in colorful silks at a horse racing event.

0/3 in the slop Sunday Keeneland. Not the start we were looking for. However, the Conductor was pleasantly surprised the sun peaked out today and we have at least one race on the turf. If we can get through this week without any more significant rain, we’ll have full field turf racing. That’s all any man, woman or child can ask for. Let’s Ride.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) G3 Transylvania Stakes

#2 Reagan’s Wit (4/1) – There will be a decent pace in this race and the Conductor thinks it’s a good opportunity to toss the favorite #11 Mi Bago (3/1). The wide post, soft ground and added distance are all going against him. Reagan’s Wit has shown real talent in his young career and will be tough to beat with a nice inside draw. DeVaux looks to pick up right where she left off at Keeneland.

#7 Test Score (8/1) – This colt ran well at Gulfstream off the bench last time, showing a strong stretch kick against the frontrunner flow. He looks primed to run a peak effort today and should be a square price.

#8 Tom’s Magic (12/1) – He’s run three quality races in a row on the turf and is improving with each start. The Conductor expects him to be finishing well down the stretch.

Race 9: 1 1/16 Mile. F. G1 Ashland Stakes

#8 Admit (15/1) – The Conductor has knocks against all the favorites in here and most of them will be pushing the pace. Admit has been running the best late pace figures of the bunch on the synthetic and now switches back to dirt for the first time since the fall. She’ll get a great setup in this race and the Conductor thinks she could spring a massive upset. Bomb’s away in today’s feature race.

Keeneland Sunday Picks — April 6, 2025 | Best Bets on a Sloppy Track

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A group of thoroughbred horses racing on a dirt track with jockeys in colorful attire.

We patiently waited all winter for spring, Keeneland and quality turf racing to return. What do we get in the end? Slop. It will not stop raining in Lexington and who knows if they’ll run on the turf anytime soon. The pony gods are not being very generous. The Conductor is angry, but I suppose Keeneland is still better in the slop than most meets these days. Let’s start the meet off right at Iron Bets of course. Skip.

Race 6: 1 1/16 Mile. F.OC 125000n1x

#5 Ruth (15/1) – This filly ran behind the favorite, #9 Justinqueso (7/2), last time, but the Conductor thinks she can turn the tables and at a much better price. That race came back fast and Ruth has every right to improve making her 2nd start off a break today. She also makes her 2nd start with Lasix, which is one of the few angles you can get a +ROI with Pletcher.

Race 7: 1 1/16 Mile. F.Mdn 110k

*Gullet Shot of the Day #5 Plaza Cue (6/1) – Steadily progressing with each start, the Conductor sees this filly graduating today. Her 2nd last time was even better than it looks, closing strongly behind a slow pace. She’ll have a much better setup today and 4/1 or better would be a dream.

Race 10: 1 1/16 Mile. (OFF Turf) Alw 150000b

#9 Injunction (12/1) – This gelding ran a solid 2nd off the bench last time over the tapeta. Now he switches back to dirt and he gets his preferred muddy surface. He’s 2/2 in the slop and those were his fastest races on numbers too. He looks to get a great trip today sitting in 2nd and the Conductor thinks he can pull of the upset in the finale.