Free Selections – Saturday – 4/21/18

The days are getting warmer and the snow is (HOPEFULLY) gone for the season. – It’s only a matter of days until we’ll be sipping a mint julep watching the best crop in years do battle for the roses. – In the meantime, here are a few appetizers to whet your handicapping whistle.

 

Keeneland

Race #9 – The  1 1/2 on the turf –  G2 Elkhorn – 5:30 pm ET

 

#12 – Hayabusa One (9-2) = 2nd off the layoff for the son of Siyouni. – He ships in from California for Peter Miller who wins 19% with his new arrivals. He is 1/1 at Keeneland and retains the services of Victor Espinoza. 3/3 ITM for the year and 5/8 ITM on the green.

#10 – Itsinthepost (5-2) = Jeff Mullins trainee who won the San Luis Rey over Hayabusa One. 1/1 in Lexington winning the 2017 Elkhorn. He is 2nd off the shelf and the barn wins 22% with last race winners. – 3/4 ITM going this far and returning to Kentucky may be a welcomed trip.

#8 – Hunter O’Reilly (10-1) = Turf runner who’s been off for 5 months and comes in for the James Toner barn. 2/2 ITM at Kee and has the hot hand of Florent Geroux in the irons (19%).

 

 

Laurel

Race #8 – The $125,000 Weber City – 1 1/16 – 4:40 pm ET

 

#4 – Shamrock Rose = Julien Leparoux for Mark Casse and they know their way to the winner’s circle. 3rd off the layoff shipping in from Woodbine. This gal gets a major rider change and look for this PA-bred to jump out and be a pace player.

#7 – Indy Union = Junior Alvarado in the saddle and trainer Jeremiah Englehardt is 1/1 over the course. – She’s been away for 4 months and drops in from graded company. – She cuts back from 1  1/8 – 1 1/16 and drops in class. When you see both of these moves good things are on the horizon.

#8 – Layla Noor – = Fergal Lynch is the reinsman and had a brief freshening the past 4 months. Drops in from graded company in the same race as Indy Union and should be a formidable foe down the lane.

 

 

Laurel

Race #10 – The Federico Tesio – 1 1/8 – 5:40 pm ET

 

#2 – Still Having Fun = Sheldon Russell in the saddle for Timothy Keefe and they exit the Private Terms stake as a beaten favorite. Stretches out from 1 1/16 – 1 1/8 and should be an up-close factor. He is 4/5 ITM over the course and Russell picks up the mount for the very first time. He is 4/5 ITM lifetime and relishes the course.

#4 – Noble Commander = Julien Leparoux in the driver’s seat and for Mark Casse. This son of Forestry is looking to make it a perfect three-in-a-row. This Florida-bred ships in and the Casse does very well on the move. He should be right on if not calling the shots on the front end.

#1 – Takedown = Luis Quinones for Lacy Gaudet and they exit off a win in an O.C. $50,000 race. – This is an acid test and getting the rail may be a benefit to his running style.