4/3-5 (KEE): Trans (G3); Blue Grass, Ashland, Madison (G1's), Shaker, Comm (G3's)

[Kasept]

FRI 9th (5:13) Transylvania S. (G3)

1 1/16 Miles (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Majestico Graham J 118 L
2 Saham Lopez P 118 L
3 Eh Cumpari Albarado R J 123 L
4 A Lot Velazquez J R 118 L
5 Magic of Believing Leparoux J R 118 L
6 Danish Dynaformer Contreras L 118 L
7 Tiz My Valentine Torres F C 118 L
8 Divisidero Hernandez R M 118 L
9 Night Prowler Castellano J J 118 L
10 Luck of the Kitten Smith M E 123 Blk-Off L
11 It'll Be Fine Rosario J 118 L
12 Tuba Geroux F 118
13 Milwaukee Mist Lezcano J 118 L

[Benny]

Thanks for posting this -

been disappointed w/ the gp meet. and look forward to keeneland meet. -then back to NY betting when they start carding turfers.

[ateamstupid]

I'm so glad the Blue Grass and the Ashland are back on dirt.

[Benny]

NBC Sports Network will provide live coverage of the Blue Grass and a replay of the Ashland on Saturday from 5-7 p.m

[ateamstupid]

SAT 6th (3:28) Madison S. (G1)

7 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $350,000

1 Sam's Sister Stevens G L 123 L
2 Wedding Toast Lezcano J 118 L
3 Stopchargingmaria Velazquez J R 118 L
4 Lady Sabelia Karamanos H A 120 L
5 Clearly Confused Leparoux J R 118 L
6 Princess Violet Alvarado J 118 L



SAT 7th (4:05) Commonwealth S. (G3)

7 Furlongs | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 I Got It All Hill C 118 L
2 Kobe's Back Stevens G L 118 L
3 Bourbon Courage Lopez P 118 L
4 Rocket Time Borel C H 118 L
5 Jessica's Star Graham J 118 L
6 Hip Four Sixtynine Albarado R J 118 L
7 C. Zee Zayas E J 120 L



SAT 8th (4:42) Shakertown S. (G3)

5 1/2 Furlongs (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $125,000

1 Mellow Fellow Vargas J P 118 L
2 Go Blue Or Go Home Mena M 118 Blk-Off L
3 Zee Bros Lopez P 118 L
4 Something Extra Bridgmohan S X 118 L
5 Choctaw Chuck Rice T B 118 L
6 Berlino Di Tiger (BRZ) Geroux F 118 L
7 Mosler Lezcano J 118 L
8 Heaven's Runway Alvarado J 118 L
9 Channel Marker Torres F C 118 L
10 Power Alert (AUS) Leparoux J R 118 L
11 Amelia's Wild Ride Alvarado R Jr 118 L
12 Tightend Touchdown Bravo J 118 L
13 Undrafted Velazquez J R 118 L



SAT 9th (5:20) Central Bank Ashland S. (G1)

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $500,000

1 Lassofthemohicans Lopez P 121 L 4-1
2 Temper Mint Patty Lanerie C J 121 L 12-1
3 Peace and War Leparoux J R 121 L 3-1
4 Angela Renee Velazquez J R 121 L 7-2
5 Silverpocketsfull Hernandez B J Jr 121 L 10-1
6 Lovely Maria Clark K D 121 L 7-2
7 West Coast Belle Bridgmohan S X 121 L 4-1



SAT 10th (6:00) Toyota Blue Grass S. (G1)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $1,000,000

1 Ocho Ocho Ocho Gonzalez S 123 L 6-1
2 Gorgeous Bird Hernandez B J Jr 123 L 8-1
3 Pepper Roani Mena M 123 L 12-1
4 Unrivaled Albarado R J 123 L 12-1
5 Carpe Diem Velazquez J R 123 L 1-1
6 Frammento Stevens G L 123 L 8-1
7 Classy Class Alvarado J 123 L 6-1
8 Danzig Moon Leparoux J R 123 L 8-1

[NTamm1215]

I love Keeneland and am looking forward to going next week. However, those are not the fields they could have envisioned for those races moving back to dirt.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I love Keeneland and am looking forward to going next week. However, those are not the fields they could have envisioned for those races moving back to dirt.

Very true.

[ateamstupid]

@DRFByronKing: Last year w/ Poly at #Kee, the Madison, Commonwealth, Ashland and Bluegrass had 45 starters; this year on dirt the 4 stakes have 28 entered

Not ideal, but I'd rather bet a 7-horse dirt field in a historic dirt stake than an 11-horse synthetic field.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Not ideal, but I'd rather bet a 7-horse dirt field in a historic dirt stake than an 11-horse synthetic field.

It's a testament to the randomness of synthetic racing, EVERYONE thought thought they had a chance to win so they entered anything they had in the barn.

[Kitan]

A big run from Classy Class might make him a sneaky Derby longshot...

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Kitan

A big run from Classy Class might make him a sneaky Derby longshot...

Ohio or Iowa?

[Kitan]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Ohio or Iowa?

If, for example, he wins the Blue Grass one couldn't consider him at all?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Kitan

If, for example, he wins the Blue Grass one couldn't consider him at all?

Sure, but that's a really big if.

Classy Class is a sprinter in my opinion. He was thrown into the lion's den in the Remsen off the one 6 furlong race and understandably tired. His Gotham is misleading because he actually rode the best part of the racetrack for the majority of the trip before getting out in plenty of time to at least get second. Granted, the 2nd place finisher stayed on the rail and was bolstered by it, but Classy Class had no punch in a slow race.

Classy Class should be in a graded stake for 3YOs on Saturday. The Bay Shore.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Sure, but that's a really big if.

Classy Class is a sprinter in my opinion. He was thrown into the lion's den in the Remsen off the one 6 furlong race and understandably tired. His Gotham is misleading because he actually rode the best part of the racetrack for the majority of the trip before getting out in plenty of time to at least get second. Granted, the 2nd place finisher stayed on the rail and was bolstered by it, but Classy Class had no punch in a slow race.

Classy Class should be in a graded stake for 3YOs on Saturday. The Bay Shore.

Solid post.

[Kitan]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Sure, but that's a really big if.

Classy Class is a sprinter in my opinion. He was thrown into the lion's den in the Remsen off the one 6 furlong race and understandably tired. His Gotham is misleading because he actually rode the best part of the racetrack for the majority of the trip before getting out in plenty of time to at least get second. Granted, the 2nd place finisher stayed on the rail and was bolstered by it, but Classy Class had no punch in a slow race.

Classy Class should be in a graded stake for 3YOs on Saturday. The Bay Shore.

Possibly, but I view some of his losses in a different light than you do. I'm not worried about the Remsen because a 2yo debut winner at 6.5f would need to be super special to win next out in a Graded race at 9f, as you alluded to. He was only a length behind El Kabeir first out when setting the pace, and given that to date his two best runs have been when not on or challenging for the lead I think it's fair to suggest that the tactics were wrong for both that and the Remsen. Yes, he did ride the better part of the track in the Gotham, but so did El Kabeir and IMO Classy Classy looked to be cruising beside the ridden-along eventual winner who was then long gone and nearly crossed back over to the rail by the time he got clear run. Should he have gotten second? Probably, but taking into account that his momentum was shut off not once but twice and that he was no longer in one of the prime paths, whereas the eventual place horse was, I'm willing to excuse the hang. Further, it was also the quirky inner in the mud, and since he ranged up with the appearance he had a lot left it is quite possible that he just didn't have the kick in that going. I'm interested to see how he performances on Saturday because I think we'll see a true showing from him. If the performance is good and the numbers come back solid then I don't see why he can't be considered. I'm not saying he will win the Blue Grass or even run well enough to earn enough points to qualify for the Derby, rendering all this moot, but isn't speculating about prospects one of the most fun parts of the Derby?

[Easy Goer Otis]

I have serious questions about form and whether he's fast enough, but Unrivaled is one of those horses that walks out of the gate and then comes from way off the screen with a tremendous late kick.

He got off slow 2 races back in a MSW44k and still won by 15 lengths (worth watching that replay). Then stepped up to a first level allowance at Parx, was 8 lengths behind at the top of the stretch and still won by a geared-down 5 lengths. Sired by Super Saver out of an Unbridled mare. The more distance the better, I would think.

Otis

[ateamstupid]

The only way I see Carpe Diem losing is if Johnny lays off the engine too much and lets Ocho Ocho Ocho get loose on the lead (I assume Cassidy will have his rider send from the rail after what happened in the San Felipe). I think the Ashland will unfold in much the same way between Lassofthemohicans and Lovely Maria.

[Kitan]

Looks like it will be a sloppy mess tomorrow. Wonder if it will dry up by Saturday late afternoon.

[Kitan]

Well, I got this race all wrong