Phoenix, Alcibiades Highlight Keeneland Opening Day Card

The Keeneland fall meeting gets underway on Friday afternoon with an outstanding ten race card that features a pair of graded stakes.

Over the first three days of the meeting, there will be ten graded stakes, nine of which are Breeders’ Cup betting Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, including today’s pair of stakes.

The $175,000 Phoenix (G3) drew a strong field of eleven runners who will go six furlongs over the polytrack surface.

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The winner earns an automatic starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.

Warrior’s Reward is the 5/2 morning line favorite, but has only made one career start over a synthetic surface, a fifth place finish in the Perryville (G3) at Keeneland last fall.

The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) drew a field of eight two-year-old fillies, with a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov 5 up for grabs.

Wickedly Perfect ships in from Southern California for the Doug O’Neill barn. The filly won the Sorrento (G3) in August and most recently was second in the Darley Debutante (G1) on Sept. 4.

Wonderlandbynight and Jordy Y, the top two finishers in the Arlington Washington Lassie (G3) at Arlington Park figure to garner plenty of action at the horse betting windows as well.

Both of the races will be televised live on ESPN 2 in a one-hour telecast that gets underway at 3:30 ET.  

Keeneland Race 8 The Phoenix G3 (4:45 ET)

#9 Ez Dreamer   6/1

#7 Hollywood Hit   4/1

#5 Warrior’s Reward   5/2

#11 Canonize   4/1

Analysis: #9 Ez Dreamer was a game third in this race last year, beaten just 3/4 of a length for the top spot. It was his first try on the fake stuff, and while he does not seem to be coming into this year’s race in the same form, he did get a useful prep out of a runner up finish last out at Zia Park, which was off nearly a three month break. Two back he was sixth in the Iowa Sprint Handicap, which turned out to be a good field. The winner was Majesticperfection, who returned to win the A.G. Vanderbilt (G1) in impressive style at Saratoga on Aug. 8, but an injury has knocked him out of contention for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Our top pick should move forward and if he takes to the poly like he did last year he fits well here and the price should be right.

#7 Hollywood Hit is coming off a win at Woodbine in the King Corrie, although he only had to beat three foes in the effort. He has now won seven of 13 career starts and 5 of 7 over the polytrack. The gelding owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and could shake loose here, but it’s important to see how this surface is playing today, as speed often does not hold well.

#5 Warrior’s Reward has been facing tougher and is coming off a fourth place finish in the Forego (G1) at the Spa. He won the Carter Handicap (G1) four back going seven furlongs, but he is cutting back to six here. His lone go on the fake stuff was a fifth place finish in the Perryville (G3) here last fall. A tough call because I like his running style for this surface and he should get a good pace, but does he want to go over poly? In addition, the price is going to be on the light side.

Wagering

WIN: #9 to win at 9/2 or better.

EX: 7,9 / 5,7,9,11

TRI: 7,9 / 5,7,9,11 / 4,5,7,8,9,11

Keeneland Race 9 The Darley Alcibiades G1 (5:20 ET)

#8 Dos Lunas   5/1

#6 Wickedly Perfect   5/2

#3 Jordy Y   4/1

#4 Wonderlandbynight   3/1

Analysis: #8 Dos Lunas ships in from Woodbine where last out the filly checked in fourth in the Natalma (G3) over a turf course labeled as good. The filly came with a four wide run around the far turn and into the stretch and finished evenly. Two back she was the beaten favorite at Monmouth Park in the Jr. Championship, drawing clear heading for home but unable to hold off the winner. This will be her first try over polytrack and she popped a bullet work over the surface here on Oct. 2 and put in a couple of good drills at Woodbine over the surface as well. She looks like the value in here if we catch most of her 5/1 morning line.

#6 Wickedly Perfect tries two turns for the first time here for the O’Neill barn. Last out the filly set the early fractions and finished in the runner up spot in the Darley Debutante (G1) at Del Mar. The third place finisher in that race was Rigoletta, who came back to win the Oak Leaf (G1) last Saturday at Hollywood Park. She has enough pedigree to handle the extra ground and this race does not have much speed signed up, and Bejarano may be able to steal it on the front end, although it is tough to go gate to wire over this surface.

#3 Jordy Y came with a four wide run, had to steady briefly and could not catch Wonderlandbynight late in a runner up finish in the Arlington Washington Lassie (G3) over the poly at Arlington Park. That race fell apart as they went very fast early, and both Jordy Y and Wonderlandbynight may get over bet off the one-two finish in that outing.

Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 4/1 or better.

EX: 6,8 / 3,4,6,8

TRI: 6,8 / 3,4,6,8 / 3,4,6,7,8

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

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