0/3 Thursday at Keeneland wasn’t ideal. Now it’s closing day today for great meet that went by too quick. We have the Derby next week and the train will be headed back to New York for the foreseeable future. Let’s make a score today and head out in style. Skip.

Race 5: 1 3/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 110000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #9 Ode to Balius (15/1) – This colt’s debut on turf was solid and he’s been steadily progressing since. He ran a sneaky strong race last time in a stakes race on synthetic, closing into a slow pace and running a strong late pace figure. The Conductor likes the added distance for him today, in a a race filled with horses with distance question marks. Making his 3rd start off the layoff and adding blinkers and Lasix for the first time here, Ode to Balius has upside. The Conductor thinks he’s worth a bet at a big price.

Race 8: 1½ Mile. (Turf) F.G3 Bewitch Stakes

#1 Chop Chop (15/1) – The scratch of War Like Goddess opens this race up quite a bit. Unfortunately, there were multiple scratches and the field size has dwindled. However, Chop Chop should still be north of 5/1 and intrigues the Conductor in a field without any monsters. He’s in good form running on synthetic and his form is muddied by all his dirt races. He’s bred for the turf and has 2 wins and a 3rd in his 3 career starts on the lawn. Chop Chop finally gets back to the turf today and gets a nice rail post for the always hot Brad Cox barn. He is dangerous.

Race 10: 1 3/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 110000n1x

#8 Catch a Wave (7/2) – This colt showed a serious finish to win his debut at Tampa last time. He was mid-pack behind a dreadfully slow pace and ran down the favorite who looked like he was home free deep in the stretch. Nobody in this Keeneland field has a late pace figure even close to what he showed last race. 5/2 or better would be fair on this colt and he should be the favorite in here, not the 2nd choice.

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