If you played chalk at Keeneland on Saturday you're likely looking at a big pile of write-offs this Sunday morning as there certainly wasn't a lack of winning prices. Below is a list of the larger win payouts on the day:
$14.20
$21.20
$48.20
$13.20
$11.60
$82.20
$13.40
Seven races out of eleven saw at least a $10 winner, with three coming in at $20+. If you were lucky enough to hit a couple of win bets you've got to be feeling pretty good this morning.
The all-stakes Pick 4 that ended with Stately Victor's 40/1 upset in the Blue Grass paid out $6,615.20 on a $0.50 wager. Yeah, a fifty cent Pick 4 paid over six grand. That's some nice cash if you can get a piece. I'm guessing those that had winning tickets punched the "ALL" button in the last leg or just decided to play every turf horse in the race.
Day 7 of the spring meet features a Sunday card that isn't the best of the meet, but I suppose that should be expected after the big day yesterday. Here are a few thoughts on some of the races and runners that stand out to me:
Race 2: N2X Allowance, 7 furlongs, 4 & up, Fillies & Mares
5-Diamond Son (2/1) got beat up a bit against an OC group sprinting over the turf at Fair Grounds last time out and should appreciate the extra furlong and a half over the Polytrack. The Dallas Stewart trainee has run twice over the Keeneland surface, with both of those performances ranking as the best of her career in terms of speed figures.
Race 3: $25K Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles, 4 & up, Fillies & Mares
The pace in this race looks like it will at least be honest which should help my price play in this spot, the 1-This Way Home (8/1). She's had her struggles at Keeneland in her career (5-0-0-0), and when you see all of those $5k Starter Allowance races you begin to think that she's outclassed. On the other hand, she tried this class during the Keeneland fall meet and ran a pretty decent race. This field doesn't have any monsters in it so I think it might be a good place to take a shot with some long odds.
7-Hawaiian Sky (5/1) is another mid-priced horse that is an intriguing play given her recent claim at Turfway Park. Trainer Joe Woodard is a solid 25% with horses first time after a purchase and this one comes in off of an eight length romp against $16K company. Turfway horses have run well here early in the meet.
Race 4: $10K Claiming, 6 furlongs, 4 & up
3-Stan the Tap Man (5/1) has been showing a lot of interest early in $12.5 and $16K company at Turfway lately, and those performances indicate to me that he fits in with this group pretty well. He's drawn inside some speed so he might have to deal with traffic issues moving into the far turn. If his price drifts up a bit he might be worth a play; I'd be interested if the board were to say something like 7/1 or higher at post time.
Race 7: N2L Allowance, 6 furlongs, 3 yo, Fillies
3-Jocata (7/2) comes into this N2L affair out of a couple $35K starter allowance events down at Gulfstream. Both of those races came up quite strong which means this filly might just love dropping into a bit of a softer spot today. She's tried the synthetics a couple of times out in California at Hollywood Park and ran well, even if her speed figures weren't incredibly fast. She should have every chance at a perfect stalking trip today.
Race 8: Allowance, 1 Mile (Turf), 4 & up, Fillies and Mares
A very classy Euro ships in to make her North American debut in the 4-Fantasia (GB) (9/5). She's got a couple of Group 3 wins to her name in England, one at Goodwood and the other at Newmarket. In the Group 1 Fillies Mile at Ascot last September she placed second by two and a half lengths, a very fine effort. On just class alone this filly has a decided edge over this field.
Fantasia's odds will likely be awful unless the American bettors decide to ignore her at the windows. Anything at 2/1 or above would be a steal.