Mr. Ed’s Keeneland Picks for Wednesday, April 23:
TRACKING TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS: With a mere three days remaining in the Spring meet, the races for both the top trainer and leading rider are coming down to the wire. Wesley Ward and Brad Cox are tied atop the trainer standings at nine wins apiece, with Brendan Walsh a nose behind with eight. The prestigious winningest-jockey race is even closer, led by the trio of the Brothers Ortiz and Luis Saez, each with 15 wins, followed closely by Flavien Prat with 14. Mr. Ed will be on hand to track the races to the finish and will report on the final standings here on VSiN.com.
WEDNESDAY AT KEENELAND: The eight-race, mid-week program is what I’ve come to expect: a mixture of challenging cheap allowance and claiming contests. After returning to his winning ways on Sunday, Mr. Ed is as determined as ever to wind up the Keeneland meet on a positive note, before shifting his focus to Churchill Downs and the Run for the Roses on May 3. Post time at Keeneland today is 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Here are my picks:
Mr. Ed’s Selections at Keeneland for Wednesday, 04/23
Race 1 (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) — $58K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs and up
Mr. Ed likes #3 NO PARDON (6-1 morning line) for trainer Rudy Brisset, hires Flavien Prat to ride, adds Lasix, blinkers and stretches 3YO out. Pardon me, Rudy, is this the Transylvania station? “Nope.” But changes make him a winner.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 4 (2:38 p.m. ET/11:38 a.m. PT) — $120K for 3YOs going 1 3/16-mile on the turf
I like three for the money: #8 EARLY ADOPTER (3-1 morning line) is stakes tested for Chad Brown and Jose Ortiz; #9 BULLDOZE (5-1) for HOFer Todd Pletcher with Irad Ortiz Jr., and #13 CAPITOL HILL (7-2) for Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado. Any two together cash a ticket.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 5 (3:08 p.m. ET/12:08 p.m. PT) — $72K CLAIMING for 3YOs going 5 1/2 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is #3 SHARP SWINGER (8-5 morning line) with Luis Saez picking up the back-to-back winner for Michael Maker. A slight distance increase suits his running style. Believe Mr. Ed, Swinger is sharp.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 6 (3:40 p.m. ET/12:40 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 1½ miles on the turf
My bet is #3 ROMANTICA (6-1 morning line) for trainer Mark Casse, who hires rider Irad Ortiz Jr. to seal the deal. Works indicate she’s ready to go marathon distance.
KEENELAND SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 7 (4:12 p.m. ET/1:12 p.m. PT) — #139K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed likes #5 LITTLE JAMIE (7-2 morning line) and #6 LANDED (5-2).
KEENELAND SELECTION: $5 DAILY DOUBLE: 5,6/2,14. ($20)
Race 8 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT) — $110K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes #2 JUST SO PRETTY (8-5 morning line) and #14 HALSTYN ROSE (4-1).
TOTAL WAGERS: $100
DERBY HALF-DOZEN: With a full field of 20 expected to go to post in the upcoming Kentucky Derby, Mr. Ed has studied all the entrants and narrowed his list of prospective winners to six. Look for the results of my research Saturday in my opening night at Churchill Downs column.
