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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008 by Brian P. Turner Friday's featured stakes offering was the Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) for four-year-olds and up going eight furlongs on the lawn. A field of 10 went to the gate, headed by KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), who was sent off as the 2.10-1 favorite. In actuality, this was not a bad price for a horse whose last start came in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) where he stalked the pace early before taking over in the stretch for a hard-fought, one-length victory. Perhaps the betting public felt that he would need a start after the long layoff or perhaps it was nothing more than a reflection of just how deep and talented this field truly was as the Maker's Mark proved itself more than worthy of the Grade 1 status it finally received this year. When the gates sprang open, Kip Deville broke well and vied for the lead briefly before surrendering it to longshot Thorn Song (Unbridled's Song) by the time the field reached the first turn. Kip Deville was content to stalk the pace early through opening fractions of :24 and :48 1/5 as he let the front runner enjoy his time on the lead early. Once they came off the final turn, Kip Deville shot through on the inside and moved up to take the lead, but Thorn Song refused to give in and stuck with him determinedly, only a length back, through the stretch drive. Kip Deville had plenty in the tank, though, and maintained that lead all the way to the finish line. Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) made a nice closing move through the stretch and nailed Thorn Song just before wire to pick up the place by a head. There were five sprints contested over the Polytrack Friday with horses on or near the pace winning three of them. As for the three main track routes, runners closing from off the pace won both of them. In addition to the Maker's Mark Mile, there was one other turf route contested on the day which was won by a horse closing from dead last. Jamie Theriot booted home an impressive four winners today while Kent Desormeaux added one to his total, which leaves the pair in a tie atop the jockey standings with eight winners each. Garrett Gomez went winless on the day but remains in second with six. Dallas Stewart saddled a winner on the day, which moves him into a tie atop the trainer standings with Todd Pletcher and Bill Mott. The trio has three winners each. Horses to Watch 1ST - LIL TREE (Lil Honcho) made the Horses to Watch list on the opening Saturday of the meet as he took a claiming field wire-to-wire to claim the victory by 3 1/2 lengths. It was a bit unexpected, though, to see the six-year-old gelding come back in only six days and step up to face starter allowance company. The chestnut was up to the task as he guided the field through opening fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 1/5 before digging in determinedly late to hit the finish line a nose in front. Lil Tree has now reeled off three wins in a row and looms a threat wherever and whenever he shows up next. 8TH - INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) found the drop from graded stakes company to be exactly what she needed to get back into the winner's circle as she absolutely dominated this solid allowance/optional claiming field. The three-year-old filly was content to stalk the pace early through opening fractions of :23 and :46 2/5 before taking command in the stretch drive on her way to an impressive 6 1/4-length victory. Don't be surprised if the gray takes another swing against stakes competition next out. Tomorrow's Outlook - Saturday, April 12 Saturday brings the featured day of the meet as Keeneland will offer a total of three graded stakes races highlighted by the Blue Grass S. (G1) for three-year-olds going nine furlongs over the Polytrack. Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]) followed up his second-place effort in this event last year with a thrilling victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he rallied from well off the pace with an absolute dream trip to hit the finish line 2 1/4 lengths in front. It would be safe to bet that if this event produces the Derby winner again this year -- and, given the quality among this field of 12, that is a distinct possibility -- then come 2009 everyone will want to make their final prep over the Polytrack. PYRO (Pulpit) is exiting an excellent off-the-pace victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in which he rallied from 4 1/2 lengths back to hit the finish line three lengths in front. Prior to that effort, the dark bay rallied from 8 3/4 lengths off the early pace to take the Risen Star S. (G3) by two lengths, and these two efforts have some questioning if he is simply a Fair Grounds "horse for course." This can be quickly dispelled by the fact that he has never been off-the-board in six career starts and all three of his defeats have come at the hands of War Pass (Cherokee Run), who has yet to display the phenomenal form he showed as a two-year-old. Pyro, on the other hand, seems to have progressed off of his two-year-old campaign and looms a definite threat in this spot. VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam) is another in the field who has yet to finish off-the-board in his career. After finishing third behind Pyro in the Risen Star, the chestnut returned with a determined effort to capture the Gotham S. (G3) in a dense fog at Aqueduct by a nose. The colt has shown the ability to both stalk and rally from off the pace, which should allow him to be well-placed early regardless of how fast they are going on the lead. COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft) concluded his 2007 campaign on a bit of a sour note as he finished a disappointing seventh, beaten by 8 1/2 lengths, in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill. However, the bay returned in January with a hard-fought victory against allowance company at Gulfstream before rallying from off the pace to win the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) by a half-length. The colt is more than capable of claiming the victory here and holds interesting possibilities should he make it into the starting gate for the Derby. COWBOY CAL (Giant's Causeway) has had his greatest success thus far competing on the grass, but if he carries that form over to the Polytrack he, too, is capable of bringing home the victory. The dark bay definitely possesses the best early turn of foot in this field and if he is allowed to have his way on or near the lead early, he could definitely be in front at the end. BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder) is one of those gradually improving sorts who must always command respect. The New York-bred is coming off a very solid win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in which he stalked the pace early before running down the leader late to hit the finish line in front by a neck. HALO NAJIB (Halo's Image) followed up a lackluster effort in the Fountain of Youth with a solid second-place showing in the Lane's End S. (G2). The chestnut has run well in all three starts over all-weather tracks and will be returning to the site where he broke his maiden in his career debut. MONBA (Maria's Mon) is another who may appreciate the return to Keeneland after a dismal, but troubled, showing last out in the Fountain of Youth where he finished 12th, beaten 39 3/4 lengths. The gray looked like a world beater when he made his debut here in October of last year as he defeated a maiden special weight field by 4 1/4 lengths under little more than a hand ride. KENTUCKY BEAR (Mr. Greeley) will be looking to regain the form he showed at Gulfstream in January when he defeated a maiden special weight field by 6 1/2 lengths. The chestnut followed that up with an uninspiring showing in the Fountain of Youth, but could surprise here if he once more finds his prior form. MEDJOOL (Monarchos) finished third last out in the aforementioned Lane's End and could get a piece here with any improvement at all. MINER'S CLAIM (Mineshaft) suffered defeat for the first time in his short career last out as he finished second, beaten by a neck, in the Rushaway S. at Turfway. The dark bay could get a piece here if he moves forward off that effort. STONE BIRD (Grindstone) appears to be in over his head but trainer D. Wayne Lukas is always capable of surprising. Maiden winner STEVIL (Maria's Mon) enters this one off a fifth in the Louisiana Derby. Also on Saturday, a field of 10 fillies and mares, four-years-old and up, is scheduled to contest the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley S. (G2) on the turf. PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) will be making her first start of the year but ended 2007 with a bang as she rallied from 3 1/2 lengths behind the early pacesetter to capture the Matriarch S. (G1) at Hollywood by 1 1/4 lengths. The dark bay generally seems to run well off the layoff and she has been working for her return to the track since mid-February. Trainer Bobby Frankel is a master at having his runners ready to roll after a layoff, so it would be wise to expect a big effort. LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) has knocked heads with Precious Kitten several times in the past but finished third to her in the Matriarch in November. This, too, will be her first start of the year but the chestnut is also capable of running big off the layoff. Toss in the fact that she has won two of her three starts here, and that trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has already had a couple of stakes winners for the meet, and there is a lot to like. BIT OF WHIMSY (Distorted Humor) will also be making her first start of the year, but ended 2007 with a couple of impressive stakes wins as she captured the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1) here at Keeneland before taking the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. The chestnut has been working well for her return to the track and looms a threat as well. Those looking for a huge long shot in this wide open race may consider STORMY WEST (Gone West). The dark bay missed by only 2 3/4 lengths against stakes-company here last fall and made her next start at Gulfstream back in late January where she easily handled an allowance field. Toss in the fact that Bill Mott is the trainer and that Kent Desormeaux has the call and there is a lot to like for a 20-1 shot. RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) had an excellent 2007 as she won six of her eight starts, including a victory in the Del Mar Oaks (G1). One of her two defeats came here in the Appalachian S. in her first start of the year as the dark bay finished fourth, beaten by only 1 1/2 lengths. ROSHANI (Fantastic Light) is a Grade 3 winner who made her 2008 debut last out against allowance/optional claiming company, where she closed from three lengths off the pace to claim the victory by 1 1/2 lengths. The five-year-old mare has a record of 6-4-1-1 on the grass and is capable of the mile upset here. SEALY HILL (Point Given) is a model of consistency as she has compiled a lifetime record of 11-6-3-1. The four-year-old filly will be making her first start of the year but finished her 2007 campaign with a nice second in the E. P. Taylor S. (G1) at Woodbine, where she missed by only a half-length. ARRAVALE (Arch) is yet another making her first start of the year after a lackluster campaign last year that saw her hit the board only once in five starts. The dark bay will be trying to regain her 2006 form when she compiled a record of 5-3-1-1 which included a victory in the Del Mar Oaks. SWINGIT (Victory Gallop) and CANDY BALL (Lemon Drop Kid) are both talented runners but they will be facing their toughest test to date against this group. Finally on Saturday, a field of 10 will contest the Commonwealth S. (G2) for three-year-olds and up going seven furlongs over the Polytrack. STORMY MILITARY (Arg) (Bernstein) will be looking to improve off his fourth-place finish last out in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), where he became embroiled in a pace duel early and tired in the stretch. The dark bay should appreciate the shorter distance he gets here and appears to be in a prime spot to pick up his first graded stakes victory since coming to North America last year. DOPPIO (Gentlemen [Arg]) holds interesting longshot possibilities here as he looks for his fourth win in a row. The chestnut is a perfect four-for-four over all-weather tracks and appears one of the more likely to benefit if a pace duel erupts on the lead as he puts in his best performances from off the pace. Trainer Carla Gaines has been on fire this year and the fact that Rafael Bejarano has the call hurts his appeal none at all. THOUSAND WORDS (GB) (Dansili [GB]) made his North American debut in January when he finished fourth, beaten by 3 1/4 lengths, in the San Pasqual H. (G2) at Santa Anita. The four-year-old colt then returned on the grass with an impressive off-the-pace win against allowance/optional claiming company. With a couple of starts under his belt, the bay could be ready for a top-class performance. REBELLION (GB) (Mozart [Ire]) finished second, beaten by only a half-length, in the Phoenix S. (G3) here last year before making his next start in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), where he finished eighth. The five-year-old horse has compiled a record of 5-2-2-0 over all-weather tracks during his career and could claim the victory here with his best performance. FOREFATHERS (Gone West) is capable of some big efforts on occasion and could be ready to fire his best in his second start off the layoff. The bay is coming off a second-place effort against allowance company at Gulfstream in which he stalked the pace early only to miss by a nose at the wire. The bay has twice placed in Grade 2 events and could pick up his first win at that level here with his best effort. XCHANGER (Exchange Rate) is an extremely erratic sort who could have an impact here with his best effort. The gray seems to generally either be in contention or well behind the pack, and the betting public is never sure of exactly what they are going to get. This will be the four-year-old colt's first start of the year and he has fired three bullets in a row in preparation. Xchanger's best puts him in the mix. BUFFALO MAN (El Prado [Ire]) will be making his first start on the Polytrack after three efforts on the grass, including a win in the Appleton H. (G3) at Gulfstream. The bay didn't seem to handle the yielding turf last out at Fair Grounds but could rebound here. ELITE SQUADRON (Officer) possesses a tremendous early turn of foot and could have a say in the outcome late if allowed his way on the lead early. MEDZENDEEKRON (Unusual Heat) rallied from off the pace to defeat an allowance/optional claiming field last out at Santa Anita, but this will be his toughest test to date. PAPA BEAR (Distorted Humor) broke his maiden last out at Santa Anita but will need to move forward off that effort in a big way to have an impact here. Saturday's forecast calls for a chance of rain with highs around 50. Saturday's Best Plays 3RD - INNY (Pulpit) has finished second in each of her two career starts but may finally be poised to get over the hump here. The dark bay missed by only three parts of a length at Deauville in France last December before making her North American debut at Gulfstream in March, where she ran evenly throughout only to come up 3 1/2 lengths short. The three-year-old filly tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by three points and also possesses the best BRIS Class rating. The BRIS Speed rating Inny posted last out is on par with the best of this bunch and she is more than capable of moving forward in her second start of the year. 4TH - EQUITABLE (A.P. Indy) will be making his first start of the year in this 1 3/16-mile turf event, but there is little doubt that trainer Mott will have him sitting on his best effort. The chestnut has run well in each of his five career starts, including a second-place effort in the Commonwealth Turf S. at Churchill as well as an allowance win right here at Keeneland last October. The four-year-old colt has a near four-point advantage in BRIS Prime Power and his BRIS Class rating is near the top of the field. Equitable has shown versatility in his running style, which should allow red hot jockey Desormeaux to have him well-placed early regardless of the pace scenario.
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