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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008 by Brian P. Turner Wednesday's 8TH race was an allowance/optional claiming event for four-year-olds and up going 6 1/2 furlongs over the Polytrack. A field of seven was sent to the gate with KORBYN GOLD (Gold Case) being sent off as the favorite. The seven-year-old gelding was exiting an excellent effort against stakes company at Turfway where he stalked the pace early before taking command in the stretch drive on his way to an impressive 8 1/4-length victory in the St. Patrick's Day H. The gray rewarded his backers here by stalking the pace early through opening fractions of :22 2/5 and :46 before taking command in the stretch drive on his way to an easy 1 1/4-length victory. Last Gran Standing (Distorted Humor), who was making his first start since winning a high-end claiming event here last fall, crossed the wire in second, a neck in front of Mr. Trieste (Old Trieste) in third. There were five sprints contested over the Polytrack today with horses on or near the pace winning four of them. As for the one route, it was won in wire-to-wire fashion. In addition, there were three turf routes with horses closing from off-the-pace winning three of them. Kent Desormeaux didn't add to his total today but still leads the way in the jockey standings with 18 for the meet. John Velazquez took off of his lone mount on the day but remains in second with 12. Jamie Theriot added one to his total today and now has sole possession of the third spot with 11. Todd Pletcher didn't send out any runners on the day but still leads the way in the trainer standings with 11 for the meet. Bill Mott's lone starter on the day was unable to make it into the winner's circle but he remains in second with seven. Graham Motion and Dallas Stewart went winless on the day and remain in a tie for third with five winners each. It has been several days since anyone hit the Pick 6, which leaves a carryover going into Thursday's card of $158,794. Horses to Watch 2ND - EBBTIDE (Stormy Atlantic) followed up his fourth-place finish in his career debut with an impressive wire-to-wire win in this 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event. The four-year-old colt guided the field through opening fractions of :22 4/5 and :46 1/5 before digging in determinedly through the stretch drive to capture the victory by a head. The bay could loom a threat next out as well. 4TH - RUSSIAN ROSIE (Ire) (Traditionally) had an unspectacular career in Europe and showed little in her North American debut at Woodbine in a stakes race in November. The four-year-old filly returned from the layoff full of run in this eight-furlong allowance event on the grass. The bay was content to lay off the pace early through opening fractions of :23 and :45 2/5 before storming down the stretch to claim the victory by a head. It will be interesting to see how she fares if she gets another shot against stakes competition Tomorrow's Outlook - Thursday, April 24 Thursday's featured stakes offering is the Bewitch S. (G3) for fillies and mares, four-years-old and up, going 12 furlongs over the lawn. A full field of 12 is set to go to the gate and there really is no true stand out among this group so insist on value before wagering. VIVA LA FLAG (Rahy) will be making her third start since coming to North America from Europe, where she had a solid if unspectacular career on the grass. The chestnut is exiting a second-place effort here while going 1 3/16 miles earlier in the meet where she staled the pace early before being out-finished in the stretch to come up a half-length short. The four-year-old filly has run well in both of her starts since arriving and could be sitting on a big effort in her third start out. TEJIDA (Rahy) is exiting a second-place effort in The Very One H. (G3) at Gulfstream, where she had the lead in the stretch drive before being caught at the wire. The bay always runs well on the grass and finished a respectable fourth, beaten by 2 1/2 lengths, in her only other start at Keeneland. FINAL REFRAIN (Lion Cavern) finished only a neck behind Viva La Flag here last out. The chestnut has hit the board in each of her last eight starts, six of which came on the grass, and a repeat of her most recent effort puts her squarely in the mix. SWINGIT (Victory Gallop) finished eighth, but beaten by only 3 3/4 lengths, last out here in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2). The bay has been running very well against stakes competition as of late, including a victory in the Furl Sail H. at Fair Grounds back in December. RISING CROSS (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) will be making her second start since coming to North America after putting in a lackluster effort in the Long Island H. (G3) at Aqueduct back in November where she finished fifth, beaten by 8 1/2 lengths. The dark bay is capable of better and the fact that Desormeaux takes the mount hurts her appeal none at all. COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) already has a win for the meet over the Polytrack in an event that had originally been slated for the lawn. The bay put in some solid, if unspectacular efforts, against stakes company last year and could be sitting on a big effort here. PALMILLA (Crowd Pleaser) will be making her first start of the year but there is little doubt that trainer Jonathan Sheppard will have her ready to roll. The bay ended 2007 in good form as she won an allowance/optional claiming event and finished second in a stakes offering, both of which came at Delaware Park. FLAWLESS TREASURE (War Chant) was finishing full of run last out in the same allowance event that Viva La Flag and Final Refrain ran in. The mare has a pedigree that says she should love 12 furlongs. ERES MAJICA (Chi) (Stuka) finished second in the 12-furlong Dowager S. here last fall and has run well in all three of her starts at this distance. The dark bay definitely has a shot with her best effort. JIVE (Dynaformer) has run well here in the past and could crash the board with a top performance. MONTE CRYSTAL (Per) (Surely Six) has shown nothing in two North American starts after a solid career in South America. GULCHIC (Gulch) has been on the decline as of late and appears overmatched against this group. Thursday's forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies and a high near 80. Thursday's Best Plays 6TH - PARIS WINDS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) has run well in both starts since arriving in North America from Ireland, including a 1 1/2-length victory on the grass at Gulfstream. The five-year-old mare was Group 2-placed across the pond and could prove to be tough to beat in this allowance event. The chestnut tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by nearly eight points and also possesses one of the best BRIS Class ratings in the field. The fact that she has the tandem of Mott and Desormeaux in her corner hurts her appeal none at all. 7TH - ACCREDIT (E Dubai) has hit the board against stakes competition in New York in each of his last three starts and looks as though he could be one tough customer against this allowance group. The dark bay has far and away the best BRIS E2 Pace ratings in the field, which should mean that he will be able to have his own way on the lead early with plenty left at the end for the run to the wire. The three-year-old colt tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by a whopping 16 points and also possesses the best BRIS Class rating. Toss in the fact that Accredit's recent BRIS Speed ratings also towers over this field and there is a lot to like.
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