The Keeneland meeting closes on Sunday with a pair of graded stakes on turf. (Photo credit: Keeneland).
The five-day Keeneland meeting comes to a close on Sunday with a pair of graded stakes—the $100,000 Transylvania (G2) and the $175,000 Elkhorn (G2).
The Transylvania drew a field of 11 three-year-olds that will go 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Mike Maker trained Field Pass is the 2-1 morning line favorite, drawing the rail with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons.
The final race of the meeting is the Elkhorn, which drew a field of 13 that will go 1 1/2 miles on turf. The Maker trained Zula Alpha (8-5) squares off again with Arklow (3-1), who is trained by Brad Cox.
In between those stakes is a $150,000 optional claimer that drew a full field including $3 million earner Whitmore.
Wesley Ward goes into the final day of the meeting leading the trainer standings with five winners from his 12 starters. He has starters in three races this afternoon. Chad Brown and Ian Wilkes have each won three races.
Brian Hernandez Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione have each ridden five winners to tie for first in the jockey standings.
It is also closing day at Belmont Park on Sunday and there is a $477,409 carryover in the Empire 6 which has a mandatory payout today.
New players get a $300 Risk Free Bet at TVG!
Saratoga opens on Thursday with a 10-race card including the $100,000 Schuylerville (G3) and the $100,000 Peter Pan (G3).
Let’s head out to Keeneland for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Keeneland Race 7 The Transylvania G3 (4:24 ET)
5 Vintage Print 4-1
7 Fancy Liquor 4-1
1 Field Pass 2-1
11 Bama Breeze 5-1
Vintage Print
The Chad Brown trainee came off a 3 1/2-month break with a sharp win versus Alw-1 company at Churchill Downs in his second career start on turf. He broke his maiden two back at Gulfstream Park over good ground in his first trip on turf. He did not beat a very tough group last out but did it impressively and looks as if he still has plenty of upside. The Brown barn won this race in 2015 and 2018. This colt was a $1 million Keeneland purchase, by Curlin out of the stakes winner Molly Morgan ($882,159) ho was best on dirt, this her first foal to race. She looks capable of moving forward off her last effort for Brown who is 29% winners with runners making their second start off a 45-180-day break.
Fancy Liquor
This colt is one of two Maker runners in here and this guy figures to be the higher price of the duo. Last out off nearly a three month break he set the early fractions and could not hold off our top pick, beaten a half-length. The colt graduated on good ground in his debut back in February at Gulfstream Park and then was third behind his stablemate Field Pass in his first start against winners in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on polytrack. A couple of good works at Trackside and he looks capable of moving forward off his last effort.
Field Pass
The son of Lemon Drop Kid took the field gate to wire to win the Audubon last out at Churchill Downs going nine furlongs, his fourth win in 10 career starts. he is 3 for 8 on turf including winning the Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park on good ground back in February. He draws the rail and picks up Santana and it will be interesting to see if this guy gets sent as his stablemate has some early zip as well. He fits well here but our top two likely are going to offer a bit more value for the top spot.
