“Individuals are gearing up and Keeneland,” race secretary Ben Huffman stated of the equestrians forward of the April 7 opening day of the Lexington circuit’s spring meet.
And never only for night time races. Likewise for the stakes motion on Friday afternoon, highlighted by the $600,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) characteristic for 3-year-old feminine mares, drawing a seven-man area topped by final yr’s champion 2-year-old filly. Nice Wheel . Additionally on the cardboard are the $400,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3T) and the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes, each for 3-year-old boys.
Surprise Wheel is not the one large identify drawn to Ashland. 2022 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) winner Julia Shines 1 1/16 mile soil contest additionally entered and damaged alongside ranked Weapons and Beauties and hopeful punch bowl An thrilling winner of his two begins.
Julia Shining wins 2022 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct Racecourse
Ashland, an official prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), is offering qualifying factors in the direction of the Might 5 race. Churchill Downs Prime 5 finishers on the 100-40-30-20-10 scale. Even the Surprise Wheel, with all seven entrants at Ashland, 48 factors inserting eleventh on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard, and with key preparations and excessive level totals coming in from different races in New York, California, may benefit from scoring some factors. and Kentucky.
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The Oaks are restricted to 14 begins and Churchill Downs officers use qualifying factors as a desire system when the race is overdrawn.
Each DJ Steady’s Surprise Wheel and Stonestreet Stables’ Julia Shining strategy Ashland with the identical preparation after competing within the Suncoast Stakes. Tampa Bay Downs February 11, in the one race of the season. Neither mare was victorious, nonetheless, and the Surprise Wheel took second place after the upset participant who ran forward. Dreaming of Snow and Julia Shining took an equal third place.
Video: Suncoast S. (BT)
Following the tempo in fourth place early on the Suncoast beneath common driver Tyler Gaffalone, the Surprise Wheel regarded poised to overhaul the chief to be turned away.
Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse stated he was joyful together with his first begin and stated he was “not precisely loopy” after being away after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) win at Keeneland on Nov.
“Suncoast was a very good race, however that was not our aim.”
She goals to see constant enchancment from her daughter. into mischief because it developed in the direction of the best effort final fall.
“I feel you will see a greater mare at Ashland on Friday and you will see a good higher mare within the Oaks a month from now,” Casse stated.
Surprise Wheel wins 2022 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland
2v2 on Keeneland, who additionally gained the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) in October, and 4-2-0 in six begins total with greater than $1.5 million wins. He recorded a neighborhood exercise of greater than half a mile on March 30 after a breeze on the Casse Coaching Heart in Central Florida.
“It regarded like :47 entered 2/5 and entered :50,” the teacher stated. “He loves Keeneland.”
Prone to compete with the Surprise Wheel for nepotism at Ashland is Gary and Mary West’s Punchbowl, the optionally available 4 1/4-length allowance claims to be the winner on March 5. Oaklawn Park At mile 1 1/16, after a debut victory in six furlongs on February 11. Punchbowl ran 1 1/16 miles 1:43.80 on its first course, incomes 99 Equibase Pace Figures.
Surprise Wheel’s greatest Equibase Pace Determine 94 and Julia Shining 92.
Punchbowl wins a discretionary allowance claimant at Oaklawn Park
A daughter skilled by Brad Cox Uncle Mo The Punchbowl will probably be headed by Flavien Prat, who teamed up with Cox to win the Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn final week. Moist paint and Arkansas Derby (G1) imperial angel .
Corridor of Fame teacher Todd Pletcher provides flashers to Julia Shining’s gear. folded The mare’s first defeat on the Suncoast. Curlin’s offspring usually develop with distance and maturity.
Pletcher goals to win for the third time in a row, taking Ashland with the eventual champions. malathat And nest , Curlin’s different daughters, who gained the Demoiselle when she was youthful. Malathaat gained the 2021 Ashland initially of the yr, whereas Nest took Ashland with a rating from final yr’s Suncoast.
Luis Saez rides Julia Shining.
Frankie Dettori, Javier Castellano, Irad Ortiz Jr., John Velazquez, and Joel Rosario are different high-profile jockeys using Keeneland on Friday, and Rosario is featured on CHP’s Weapons n’ Graces program for coach Chad Brown.
Common jockeys on the Kentucky circuit are additionally on the go all through the day. There are 104 entries within the day’s 10 races, in addition to 16 eligible opponents, attracted by the full of life environment of the circuit and profitable wallets. Races for senior virgins are price $100,000 for these raised in Kentucky, and allowances go as much as $140,000. These are corresponding to these offered final fall.
Huffman additionally expects loads of turnout for the race on April 8, when the monitor hosts the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1), the perfect Kentucky Derby (G1) preparation.
“Sturdy trainers. Sturdy jockeys. Sturdy horses,” stated Huffman. “That is what we’re dreaming of right here. That is our aim: to have the perfect races in North America.”
Inputs: Central Financial institution Ashland S. (G1)
Keeneland, Friday, April 07, 2023, Race 9
- 1st Class
- 1 1/16m
- Grime
- $600,000
- 3 yr previous Fillies
- 17:16 (native)
#Wheel #Takes #Lap #Keeneland #Ashland
