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KEENELAND DAILY NOTEBOOK WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008 by Brian P. Turner Wednesday's featured stakes offering was the Appalachian S. (G3) for three-year-old fillies going eight furlongs on the grass. A field of 10 went to the gate with I Lost My Choo (Western Expression) being sent off as the favorite. The filly was looking for her fourth win in a row this year, with all three of her prior victories coming on the grass at Gulfstream. Though this was her first try against stakes-level competition, the bay had been facing some pretty tough allowance company in Florida and the betting public obviously felt she was capable of continuing her winning streak here. When the gates sprang open, Mrs Petoski (Orientate), who had drawn in from the also-eligible list, bounded out of the gate and onto the lead, guiding the field through opening fractions of :24 2/5 and :49 2/5 while I Lost My Choo stalked behind. I Lost My Choo was extremely rank on the backstretch, tossing her head with every stride, but came off the final turn with plenty left in the tank as she put the front runner away and sprinted toward the wire. ALWAJEEHA (Dixieland Band) rallied from off the pace with a tremendous late kick and moved up to challenge the favorite, who dug in determinedly, refusing to give in. It wasn't until the pair neared the wire that Alwajeeha finally put her way rival away to claim the victory. Alwajeeha was exiting a second-place effort against allowance company on the grass at Gulfstream after rallying from off the pace to finish second in the Tropical Park Oaks at Calder in early January. The bay put in an extremely impressive effort here, though, as she overcame her seconditis in impressive fashion. Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation) may very well have been the best horse in this race as she was trapped behind a wall of horses for a great deal of the stretch drive. Once she finally got in the clear, the bay finished with a rush to cross the wire in second, a head behind Alwajeeha but a nose in front of I Lost My Choo in third. There were six sprints contested over the Polytrack Wednesday with horses closing from off the pace winning four of them. As for the lone route, it was won by a closer as well. In addition to the feature there was one other turf route contested on the day, which was won by a runner stalking the pace. Kent Desormeaux went winless on the day but still has a comfortable lead in the jockey standings with 13 for the meet. Jamie Theriot still has possession of the second spot with nine followed by Garrett Gomez with eight. As for the trainers, Bill Mott still leads Todd Pletcher by a score of six winners to five. Dallas Stewart saddled a winner on the day and has sole possession of the third spot with four. Horses to Watch 2ND - PATRICIA (Arg) (Mont Laurier) found the drop in class to be exactly what she needed to get back into the winner's circle in this 1 1/16-mile claiming event. The six-year-old mare was content to lay well off the pace early through opening fractions of :23 4/5 and :47 2/5 before coming up on the rail to take command in the stretch drive on her way to an easy two-length victory. The bay was claimed out of this event and will be making her next start for trainer David Vance. 5TH - TERIFFANY (Fusaichi Pegasus) was an impressive debut winner for trainer Wesley Ward in this 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event. The two-year-old filly took the lead out of the gate and quickly opened up 3 1/2 lengths on the field. Once they hit the stretch, the rest of the field tried to challenge but the chestnut still had plenty left in the tank as she held on until the end to hit the finish line 1 1/2 lengths in front. Tomorrow's Outlook - Thursday, April 17 Thursday's feature is the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings Hurdle S. (NSA-G1) for four-year-olds and up going 20 furlongs over national fences. A field of seven is set to go to the gate and, without the presence of a champion such as the retired McDynamo (Dynaformer) among the field, it appears to be a fairly wide open event. PREEMPTIVE STRIKE (Roanoke) appears to possess the best early turn of foot in the field and there doesn't appear to be anyone in this group who will want to run with him early. The 10-year-old gelding was impressive in his first start of the year at Aiken, where he led the field from gate-to-wire for an easy 3 3/4-length victory. Trainer Sanna Hendriks is one of the best in the business and will undoubtedly have the chestnut ready for a big effort. SWEET SHANI (NZ) (Kashani) will be making her first start of the year after finishing second to the aforementioned McDynamo last October in the Breeders' Cup Grand National S. (NSA-G1) at Far Hills. The gray is capable of some nice efforts on occasion and can contend here. BEST ATTACK (Bahri) finished only 1 1/2 lengths behind Sweet Shani in that event after striking a fence and is a threat here as well. Thursday's 7TH race is an allowance event for fillies and mares, four-years-old and up, going about seven furlongs over the Polytrack. EVEN TEMPO (Stephen Got Even) appears to stand a legitimate chance here at what should be a fair price. The four-year-old filly is exiting a third-place effort against allowance competition at Turfway in which her head was turned when the gates sprang open at the start, leaving her a bit behind the field early. The four-year-old filly has hit the board in four of six starts on all-weather tracks, including a second-place effort here at Keeneland where she posted the best BRIS Speed rating of her career. ELLA BIRD (A.P. Indy) will be making her first start since breaking her maiden at Woodbine back in December. The chestnut has been working well for her return to the track and the fact that Desormeaux will be in the saddle hurts her appeal none at all. ASPIRING (Seeking the Gold) finished 2007 a bit flat after being extremely competitive earlier in the year, including a third-place effort in the Bourbonette S. (G3) at Turfway. If the dark bay returns from the layoff ready to roll, she can challenge as well. JUST HOPING (Gulch) will be trying the Polytrack after four respectable efforts on the grass last year. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard will undoubtedly have her sitting on a big effort after the layoff. Thursday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high around 70. Thursday's Best Plays 2ND - NIGHTMARE (Out of Place) could offer a bit of value in this 5 1/2-furlong claiming event. The five-year-old mare is coming off a solid win at Turfway, where she vied for the lead early before taking command on her way to an easy 1 3/4-length victory. The bay has run well here over the Polytrack in the past, including a win here against better last spring when she stalked the pace early before taking over in the stretch for an easy 2 1/2-length victory. 6TH - FAR EAST GOLD (Orientate) should be hard to beat in this six-furlong allowance affair. The three-year-old colt followed up a solid five-length maiden score with a second-place effort against allowance/optional claiming company at Fair Grounds where he was 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner but four lengths clear of the next nearest competitor. The chestnut tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by over four points and also possesses the best BRIS Class rating.
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