Mr. Ed’s Keeneland Best Bets
Welcome to this week’s episode of Mr. Ed’s Keeneland best bets!
WALKOFF HOME RUN: Last week’s episode pitted VSiN handicapper Mr. Ed versus a challenging 11-race card at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY. After all of his initial five selections finished up the track, slumping Mr. Ed was being shut out by Keeneland. With only two races to go, ice-cold Mr. Ed appeared to be a sure loser.
Then, in the tenth race, his pick, ENCINO, went wire-to-wire to capture the Lexington Stakes, returning $86.20 on his $20 win wager and leaving him down less than $100 for the day. Finally, with a single race remaining, Mr. Ed hit the proverbial walkoff home run when his play ROYAL MAJESTY scored, returning $65.30 on his $10 to Win & Place bet and completing a $10 Daily Double for $188.90 … Final score: Mr. Ed: $360.40-Keeneland: $175.00. Net Return: $185.40.
MR. ED’S ELITE 11: With two weeks remaining before the Run for the Roses, here are probable starters, riders and current Las Vegas odds: 1. Forever Young/Yahagi (9-1); 2. Fierceness/Velazquez (3-1); 3. Sierra Leone/Gaffalione (7-2); 4. Stronghold/Fresu (25-1); 5. Resilience/Velazquez (20-1); 6. Catching Freedom/Prat (12-1); 7. Dornoch/Saez (14-1); 8. Just a Touch/Cox (20-1); 9. Just Steel/K. Asmussen (30-1); 10. Encino/Geroux (40-1) and 11. Honor Marie/Curtis (12-1).
JOCKEY WATCH: Today’s 10-race card offers several opportunities for leading riders to visit the Winner’s Circle. The Bros. Ortiz, Tyler Gaffalione and always-tough Frankie Dettori all have live mounts. And don’t overlook Brazilian upstart Luan Machado, who feels right at home on the Kentucky circuit.
MR. ED’S TOP SELECTIONS AT KEENELAND (First post time 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT)
Race 3 (2:04 p.m. ET/11:04 a.m. PT — $110K Allowance Optional Claiming at 6 furlongs for 3YOs
Mr. Ed likes three: #3 MOTOR CITY (4-1 morning line) with Gaffalione; MR SKYLIGHT (4-5) with veteran Alvarado; and KNICKS STORM (3-1) with Machado.
Keeneland Best Bet: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 5 (3:08 p.m. ET/12:08 p.m. PT) — $64K Claiming at 1 ⅛-mile for 4YOs & up
#8 FROMANOTHAMUTHA (3-1 morning line) is my top selection in competitive route. Ultra-consistent campaigner shows a couple of solid works over Keeneland oval. Ray Handal trains, Frankie Dettori rides as colt drops into claiming ranks for first time.
Keeneland Best Bet of the Day: $20 Win. ($20)
Race 7 (4:12 p.m. ET/1:12 p.m. PT) — $100K Maiden Special Weight at about 7 furlongs for 3YO fillies
Mr. Ed likes #4 SHE’S WICKED SMART (5-2 morning line) to score after finishing third in debut at Saratoga last summer. Bobby Falcone gives Luis Saez a leg up. The daughter of Runhappy gets Lasix. Wiseguy play.
Keeneland Best Bet: $10 to Win and box in Exactas with 3,7,8. ($40)
Race 8 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT) — G2 $350K Elkhorn Stakes at 1 ½-mile for 4YO & up
I like a trio: #3 HIGHLAND CHIEF (5-1 morning line) with Johnny Velazquez for Graham Motion stable; #3 BOLD ACT (3-2) with Frankie Dettori for Charlie Appleby; and #10 MISSED THE CUT (4-1) with Irad Ortiz Jr. for Sadler barn.
Keeneland Best Bet: $5 Exacta box. ($30)
Race 9 (5:16 p.m. ET/2:16 p.m. PT) — G3 $300K Ben Ali Stakes at 1 3/16-mile for 4YOs & up
Mr. Ed will use three in an Exacta box in this first leg of the late Daily Double: #3 SMILE HAPPY (3-1 morning line), #4 KINGSBARNS (2-1) and #9 WAR CAMPAIGN (4-1).
Keeneland Best Bets: $5 Exacta box & $5 Daily Doubles of 3,4,9 with 1,2,13 in Race 10. ($75)
Race 10 (5:48 p.m. ET/2:48 p.m. PT) — $110K allowance at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf for fillies & mares, 3YOs & Up
In the finale, use three #1 GOLDEN DAGGER (7-2 morning line), #2 PROUD MARY (5-2), and #13 MAKEUP (4-1) to complete the late Daily Double.
TOTAL WAGERS: $195
SPOT PLAYS
Race 9 Oaklawn G3 $200K Bath House Row Stakes (6:32 p.m. ET/3:32 p.m. PT)
#3 IMPERIAL GUN (3-1)
Race 11 $1.25 Million G2 Oaklawn Handicap (7:52 p.m. ET/4:52 p.m. PT)
#5 RED ROUTE ONE (7-2)
