Mr. Ed’s Keeneland Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: When was the last time Irad Ortiz Jr., Flavien Prat and Frankie Dettori failed to visit the Winner’s Circle at the same track on the same day? Mr. Ed’s best guess is Thursday at Keeneland. Jose Ortiz had a pair of scores, while no other jockey or trainer was able to win more than one race. The average $2 Win ticket returned a healthy $16.44. The saga of young rider Luan Machado continued as the Jockey Club of America named him Jockey of the Week. Friday’s penultimate (a word writers live to use, but horseplayers could care less) 10-race card featuring the G2 Valley View Stakes and the $200K Myrtlewood Stakes begins at 1:00 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Let’s take a look at Mr. Ed’s Keeneland picks.
Mr. Ed’s Keeneland Picks for Friday (10/25)
Race 2 (1:32 p.m. ET/10:32 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 1 ⅛-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes #5 COURAGEOUS CLAY (7-2 morning line). Trained by Bobby Medina, retains meet-leading rider Tyler Gaffalione, son of Catholic Boy stretches out and adds blinkers for turf test for babies. Ed’s badge of courage.
KEENELAND PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:36 p.m. ET/11:36 a.m. PT) — $78K MAIDEN CLAIMING 2YO fillies going 6 furlongs
#9 OUR SHENANIGAN (3-1 morning line) is my choice. Trained by Brad Cox, the gal gets a major rider upgrade to Flavien Prat as she returns to dirt following a mid-pack finish in a turf sprint. Needs to be on best behavior.
KEENELAND PICK, $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (3:08 p.m. ET/12:08 p.m. PT) — $110K for 3YOs & up going 1 3/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes #8 BLACK IRON (6-1 morning line) for HOF conditioner Steve Asmussen with Jose Ortiz looking to repeat on the son of Constitution. Sharp morning works point to preparedness. This guy can run all day.
KEENELAND PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($40)
Race 7 (4:12 p.m. ET/1:12 p.m. PT) — $140K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 5 ½ furlongs on turf
Standout trainer Wesley Ward saddles my selection, Irish-bred #9 NO NAY HUDSON (3-1 morning line). Sprinter sports several speed figures in the 90s. Frankie Dettori rides in drop from graded stakes ranks. Yes, yea, all the way!
KEENELAND PICK: $20 to Win. ($20)
Races 8-10 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT)
KEENELAND PICK: $0.50 Pick 3
R8: 2,3,4,8,10
R9: 4,8,10
R10: 2,4,6,9 ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $110
SATURDAY AT KEENELAND: If one of your favorite stakes-quality horses isn’t running in next week’s Breeders’ Cup Championships (Friday & Saturday at Del Mar), some may compete on closing day tomorrow at Keeneland. Three graded stakes on a 10-race card with more than $1 million in purses await horseplayers — and Mr. Ed, who will post his sections here on VSiN.
NFL: 4-3*
(*against spread)
Philadelphia Eagles +2:5
