Mr. Ed’s Keeneland Picks for Thursday, April 24:
TRACKING MR. ED: With one day remaining in the Keeneland Spring Meet, the final standings for top trainer and winningest jockey are both tight as a tick. With two days remaining in the meet, conditioners Brad Cox and Brendan Walsh are tied atop the trainer race with 10 wins each, followed closely by Wesley Ward with 9. As for the riders, Luis Saez leads all jockeys with 18 wins, followed by Jose Ortiz with 17, and Irad Ortiz & Flavien Prat tied with 15 each. As for Wednesday’s action, Saez led jockeys with a pair of wins, while Cox and Walsh each had a win. When all was said and run, the average $2 win ticket returned $16.31.
THURSDAY AT KEENELAND: With many of the big barns having packed up the vans and moved lock, stock and barrel 75 miles west on the interstate to Louisville for Churchill Downs’ annual Spring meet, few quality horses remain at Keeneland to compete. Today’s penultimate day of the Keeneland meet leaves Mr. Ed with much to be desired. The 10-race card is a lackluster mish-mash of cheap claimers, old mares and hapless maidens. There is a Pick 6 carryover of $25,217. Finally, since it’s under-performing Mr. Ed’s job to soldier on by studying past performances, listening to backstretch sharps, and posting pix, here are his plays for Thursday.
Mr. Ed’s Selections at Keeneland for Thursday, 04/24
Race 1 (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) — $55K MAIDEN CLAIMING for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile
I like two in the first leg of a Daily Double: #5 VINO BELLA (3-1 morning line) for low-profile trainer Grant Foster, who hires big-time rider Joel Rosario to pilot maiden, and #6 PROTOCOL (8-5) for top-rated team of Brad Cox and Flavien Prat. If the protocol calls for vino, I’ll drink to that.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 5,6/7,10. ($20)
Race 2 (1:32 p.m. ET/10:32 a.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf
To complete the Daily Double, Mr. Ed likes #7 RAFFINATO (3-1 morning line) for Cox-Prat team, and #10 LONGSHOREMAN (8-5) for Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz Jr.Â
Race 3 (2:04 p.m. ET/11:04 a.m. PT) — $69K STARTER ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #1 BEST SELLER (3-1 morning line) with Flavien Prat picking up mount; #6 WINDY WALK (2-1) with seasoned veteran Luis Saez, and #7 PENS STREET (4-1 morning line) with improving young rider Ben Curtis.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 5 (3:08 p.m. ET/12:08 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for 4YOs going 1 1/12-mile on the turf
My pick is #10 STEADFAST RESOLVE (3-1 morning line) for excellent trainer George Weaver and Repole stable with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount. Deep closer will be tough in his first marathon. He’s my choice and I’m sticking to it!
KEENELAND SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 6 (3:40 p.m. ET/12:40 p.m. PT) — $110K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YO fillies going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes longshot #3 SCARCE (20-1 morning line) for sneaky-good trainer Whit Beckman, who teams up with veteran jockey Florent Geroux. I also like three others to use with her: #4 ME AND MOLLY MCGEE (6-1); #5 MAGICAL DAY (7-2), and #9 VELVET DEVIL (5-2). Bombs away!
KEENELAND SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 3/4,5,9. ($30)
Races 7-9 (4:12 p.m. ET/12:12 p.m. PT) — $1 PICK 3
R7: 4,6,8,11
R8: 3,5,7
R9: 5,6,7,12 ($48)
Race 8 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs going 6 furlongs
My BEST BET OF THE DAY is #5 ANCIENT WORLD (6-5 morning line) for sharp Joe Sharp (16-4-3-2), who rehires Jose Ortiz to ride late-developing sprinter. Huge win effort, added distance, and excellent works point to repeat score. Strictly the best.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $30 to Win. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $178
CLOSING DAY AT KEENELAND: The $350K BEWITCH STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up headlines tomorrow’s 10-race closing day card. Trainer Brendan Walsh, who has had an excellent meet (26-8-3-4), will saddle favorite #3 FOREVER AFTER ALL (9-5 morning line) with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons. Other highlights include three contentious Maiden Special Weight contests and a trio of allowance races. Special Race 1 post time is 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. While a sellout crowd is expected, unfortunately, like today, rain is in the forecast. Looking ahead to Churchill Downs, Opening Night on Saturday will begin at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT).
