Sunday’s Keeneland Spot Plays
October 10th, 2010By Jude T. Feld
Regular followers of this space should be well ahead on the meeting, as the nine selections posted have produced four winners and eight place horses.
If you caught the winner of the Phoenix (G3), Wise Dan, that I tweeted at http://twitter.com/racehorsereport on Friday morning after the Spot Play page was published, your BR should be even fatter.
Who says you can’t handicap Polytrack?
Today’s card is challenging, but there are always opportunities if the price is right.
1st) Trainer Danny Peitz wins with 35% of his maidens making their second start. He saddles I’M NOT AFRAID, who ran second in his Arlington debut. That race was on the turf, but an excellent five-furlong workout at Keeneland on October 3 indicates the synthetic surface won’t be a problem. At 5-1 on Mike Battaglia’s morning line, he represents solid value.
2nd) ORDINATION was claimed by trainer Kenny McPeek from a third-place finish in an optional race at Saratoga won by Prince Will I Am. “Will” came out of that race to win the Jamaica (G1) at Belmont Park yesterday, highly flattering the form. This race sets up nicely for the son of Fantastic Light, who will be trying the Polytrack for the first time.
5th) A half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Balance and the sensational and undefeated Queen of North American racing, Zenyatta, SOUPER SPECTACULAR put it all together in his last start, breaking his maiden easily on the Saratoga lawn. The son of Giant’s Causeway, who was purchased by Campbell’s Soup heiress Charlotte Weber for $1,150,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is on the upswing and doesn’t find any champions to worry about in here. A top effort can be expected.
10th) Cagey trainer Andrew McKeever tuned MOUNTAIN JUSTICE up in a Woodbine sprint to get him ready for this race. Twice a winner on the turf in six starts, the son of Afleet Alex has never been worse than second going long on the turf. His 10-1 morning line is ludicrous.
