Mike Somich’s Keeneland Picks:
We have a couple of solid cards to choose from on a nice Saturday of racing. Keeneland’s card tops the list with two graded stakes and a host of other solid betting events, but Belmont at the Big A has a handful of great races as well! Here are today’s Keeneland picks.
The Perryville, Race #7, Keeneland
#5 Book’em Danno returns to the track to continue a great three-year-old campaign. He looked awesome in back-to-back wins returning to the US and ran well in the Jerkins. He is a logical top pick in this spot and has a very good shot at winning, but the price is going to be too short for me to back.
#3 Knightsbridge is one of the rising stars in this crop, entering the race two for two in his career. He was dynamic in both victories for Hall of Fame Trainer Bill Mott who is known for easing horses along. The fact that he takes the shot here tips his hand that Knightsbridge is sitting on a big one.
#4 Who Dey will be rolling late. The key to his race will be whether the pace sets up for him to run the field down. He ran well at this track and distance last year and the fact we are going seven furlongs today is right in his wheelhouse.
#1 Henro has been improving throughout the season and will look to make his mark in graded stakes company. His race two back is an easy one to throw out due to the distance. When you draw a line through that race, he’s been in the exacta in his last 5. He’s stepping up in class, but the price is right at 12-1
Keeneland Picks: 3-5-4-1
Bets: $50 Win #3
Raven Run Stakes, Race #9, Keeneland
#2 Miuccia stepped up in class last time out and ran very well against Brightwork and Two Sharp. Irad Ortiz Jr. stays aboard for another stakes try, and the pace sets up well for Miuccia to run them down late. The rail draw should help the trip and the price is attractive at 6-1.
#5 Emery is going to be the deserving favorite in this spot. She has won four of her six starts with the only losses coming to two of the superstars in this division. She has won over this track and won at this distance; the issue is price. She’s 7/5 on the morning line and will most likely go off under even money.
A price that I like, #10 Haulin Ice, will try to go right to the front and see how long she can go. She lost the last time out at Charles Town, but that track is a bull ring, and some horses simply do not take to it. I love the fact that the trainer is wheeling back into stakes company. The price change from 5/2 last time out to 12-1 today is juicy as well.
#3 My Mane Squeeze is the vet of the bunch in these graded stakes. This will be her seventh straight graded race and is built for the seven-furlong distance. Today’s field is more difficult than what she has beat, so even with the experience edge, she needs a career best to win.
Keeneland Picks: 2-5-10-3
Bets: $50 Win #2
Spot Plays:
Keeneland Race #8 – $50 Win #10
Keeneland Race #10 – $50 Win #2
