Keeneland Weather Update

[RUFFIAN]

Due to the threat of inclement weather, Keeneland is adjusting the morning schedule for its Spring Meet opening Saturday, April 7, to allow more time to prepare the facility for the afternoon's race card. Keeneland will cancel Sunrise Trackside, its morning program for fans held during training hours. Additionally, gates will open Saturday at noon rather than the usual 11 a.m. ET. Post time for the first race is 1:05 p.m.

“This change gives our race track and grounds crews extra time to get ready for the race day in the event of inclement weather,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “It also enables our fans, especially those traveling from out of town, to plan their day at Keeneland.”

Keeneland had earlier announced that The Hill, the official tailgating lot, will be closed Saturday.

Shadwell Farm

Fans can follow the latest weather updates at Keeneland.com/weather. Any other race-day changes, in the event they should occur, also will be communicated via Keeneland's social media channels.

Keeneland kicks off its 2018 Spring Meet on Friday, April 6, with a full day of racing highlighted by the $150,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) and College Scholarship Day, during which a record $30,000 in scholarships will be given away to registered college students.

Saturday's race card offers 11 races, five of which are graded stakes, headlined by the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), major preps on the 2018 Roads to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1).

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[RUFFIAN]

QUIP TO SCRATCH FROM BLUE GRASS, HEAD TO ARKANSAS DERBY

By Alicia Wincze Hughes t @BH_AHughes

Graded stakes winner Quip will scratch from the April 7 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and instead head to Oaklawn Park for a start in the Arkansas Derby (G1) April 14, trainer Rodolphe Brisset said.

Quip captured the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his season
debut March 10, when he defeated Blue Grass entrant Flameaway by a length.

When Justify was rerouted from the Arkansas Derby to Saturday's Santa Anita Derby (G1), the door opened to send Quip to Hot Springs in hopes of getting a top-level victory for the son of Distorted Humor.

"The Arkansas Derby is a grade 1 and ... they're not easy to win," Brisset said. "After the Triple Crown, you have fewer chances and ... the main thing really that made us do this was Justify going to the Santa Anita Derby."

An injury to Bob Baffert-trained stablemate McKinzie—who was slated to run in the Santa Anita Derby—prompted the decision to keep Justify in California for his first graded stakes try.

Bred by WinStar Farm and co-owned by Kenny Troutt's operation, along with SF Racing and China Horse Club, Quip has won three of four starts, with his lone defeat a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 25.

He drew post5 in the field of 14 for the Blue Grass and was the 6-1 co- third choice on the morning line.

With Quip scheduled to scratch, Mark Casse-trained Determinant will be able to draw in from the also-eligible list.
The son of Tapit is cross-entered in the April 6 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T), but Casse said Thursday evening that, despite having to break from the outside in the Blue Grass, he and owner John Oxley wanted to give him a chance in Keeneland's signature $1 million test.

"We're going to run," Casse said. "We want to try him on the dirt and we talked about it and, obviously Quip galloping at Keeneland April 5
we wish we weren't on the outside, but it looks like there is some speed inside of him.
We want to give him a try. Mr. Oxley wants to give him a try.
And if you're not in it, you can't win it."
Oxley also owns Flameaway.

Another Blue Grass contender whose status is in flux is Machismo, who came in fourth last time out in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).

Co-ownerRon Paolucci, not thrilled about either the post 13 draw or a forecast calling for snow in Lexington, has been mulling whether to send the son of More Than Ready to the Arkansas Derby. Paolucci is concerned about how inclement weather Friday into Saturday could impact the Keeneland main track.

"It's more the track conditions, but I think the weather forecast has gotten a little bit better (for Kentucky)," Paolucci said.

"We were planning on just passing the race. We were going to breeze him on Friday, but I told my trainer (Anthony Quartarolo) to hold off, and we're going to kind of play it by the hour— see how the track plays.

It's supposed to be real cold in the morning and then 40s in the afternoon, so I don't want a frozen track, and then it thaws out.

"It's going to be a 12th-hour decision. And the other thing, too, is the forecast at Oaklawn next week looks terrible. So it's pick your poison.

I would like to run (at Keeneland). I know I'm up against it with the draw, but this is a good horse."

BH
ANNE M. EBERHARDT

[DonGuido]

Thanks Ruffian but right now it's

TMI!!!!!! I need to study this in depth in the morning over strong coffee but I don't see anything immediately that changes our card.

[RUFFIAN]

Just thought it might be of interest to all

Not related to our card or "Changing" anything
But possibly helpful when handicapping

Didn't realize sharing News / Updates was a bad thing
So will refrain in the future

[Real Quiet]

Appreciate the "heads up" Ruff. Weather this spring is a factor everywhere except for the grandiose Kamloops indoor racetrack and casino.

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

Just thought it might be of interest to all

Not related to our card or "Changing" anything
But possibly helpful when handicapping

Didn't realize sharing News / Updates was a bad thing
So will refrain in the future

Ruffian, I never meant to come across mean spirited. It just hit me at the time of night I read it (or started to) that it was brain overload for me. I don't have to say this but you can post anything you want to on here within the rules of the forum of course, and people can read it or not.

It is good information and may impact how many of us handicap tomorrow.
Thank you,
DG

[RUFFIAN]

UPDATE SUGGESTS POSSIBLE WORSENING

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...pril-snowstorm