Brigadoon is scheduled to make its spring appearance in Lexington from 4/8/16 – 4/29/16. – There is no other place on the planet quite like Keeneland. Is it the splendor of the season, or the majestic Thoroughbreds prancing in the paddock ? – The answer is simple. Yes. – Keeneland is proof in the making the Wagering Gods love racing. I’ve been making the trek for a number of years, and as long as the big man upstairs sees fit, I’ll have a trip or three coming my way this month. – Here is a little sampling of runners to watch and wager. You’ll want to be dialed in from the first post parade until the last race is official. Winning Ponies has done incredibly well over the years in Lexington, and use this as an appetizer before you download your E-Z Win Forms. – With that in mind, what are you waiting for ?  It’s almost post time !

 

Saturday

The forecast calls for 46 degrees and sunny.

This card is so good you’ll think it’s Breeders’ Cup all over !  – Be sure to download your E-Z Win Forms as soon as possible and dive right in. There is more value than you would ever expect !

Race #3 -Mdn Sp Wt. – 1 mile on the turf

#10 – Llanita (7-5) = Javier Castellano in the irons for Chad Brown, and you better get used to hearing this tandem at Keeneland. She has been off for 4 months, and Team Brown wins (27%) on the comeback to the races move. This maiden filly was a beaten chalk in the (G-3) Ms. Grillo, and a $100,000 stake. If she is half ready she’ll inhale this field with ease.

Race #5 – Alw $62,000 NW1X – 1 1/8 on the turf

#2. – Sympathy (5-2) = Castellano and Brown team up again, and this filly was a bridesmaid and beaten chalk at GP in February. – She was off a step slow and still came rolling like a down-bound train. Second Lasix may do the trick today with a clean trip.

Race #6 – The (G-1) $500,000 Ashland – 1 1/16

This race may not break the bank for value, but you’ll be hard pressed to find this much talent in one race. – Keep in mind this kicks off the 50-cent pick five. The E-Z Win Forms will dig down and find that hidden nugget to sweeten the pot.

#4 – Rachel’s Valentina (3-1) = Florent (Red-Hot) Geroux in the irons for Todd Pletcher. – This daughter of Bernardini and Rachel Alexandra looks like a monster. She hasn’t raced for five months since the BC Juvenile Fillies and has been working a steady clip at Palm Meadows. I’m looking for Carina Mia and Cathryn Sophia to set solid fractions as she’ll be in the cat-bird seat eyeing the leaders. – This compact field of five looks to set good fractions and she is the only one to run them down and win in a (G-1) event.

Race #8 – The (G-2) Shakertown – 5 1/2f on the turf

#10 – Undrafted (5-2) = Wes Welker has a super runner here, and he put him in the right hands with Johnny V and Wesley Ward. – A winner at Royal Ascot and third in last year’s running makes him look pretty attractive. – He’ll come running like a wide-out looking for a “Hail Mary” about the 1/8th pole. 161 days since his last race should keep the odds hovering at 2-1 or better, and look for him late in the lane.

Race #9 – The (G-1) Madison – 7f

#12 – Stopchargingmaria (7-2) = Javier Castellano up for Todd Pletcher, and they look to repeat from Breeders’ Cup weekend getting up in the shadow of the wire. The race looks like a good prep as she likes more ground, but if you go back and watch last year’s Madison. You’ll see she can turn on the afterburner at any time. Her works are scalding in the morning, and Javier is ready for another close-up

Race #10 – The (G-1) Toyota Bluegrass Stakes – 1 1/8

This race can offer up some incredible value, and the E-Z Win Forms are bound to have this one nailed down cold.

#3 – Cherry Wine (12-1) = Corey Lanerie and Dale Romans team up, and this son of Paddy O’ Prado looks to have figured out he likes the dirt more than turf. He was flying in the (G-2) Rebel and deserves a good hard look at a square price.

#4 – Zulu (5-2) = Castellano has a nice pace setter here, and if he runs a race anywhere near to the Fountain of Youth, he’ll be unstoppable. Blinkers on this late has me scratching my head, and that has me not fully on the band wagon.

#6 – Brody’s Cause (4-1) = Luis Saez in the irons for Dale Romans. He was rolling late in the BC Juvenile against Nyquist and begs for more ground. The solid pace and added distance should be to his liking.

#12 – Zapperini (30-1) = Cisco Torres in the saddle for Greg Foley, and they exit the Risen Star off a promising effort to be 5th. – A lightly raced son of Ghostzapper, and may be one of the bombs to make the day a winner !

There it is. A little sampling of the goodness of Keeneland. – Think of this as your appetizer, and the E-Z Win Forms will make your dinner complete ! – Be sure to download each and every race day for the Keeneland meet as Winning Ponies does very well at the Lexington oval. – They have over $2,690,081 in exotic payouts, and after this month I’ll bet dollars to donuts it will be much higher. – There is no better time of year to be a racing fan, and Keeneland will have you feeling the season. – Best of luck from your friends at Winning Ponies !