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Saturday’s Keeneland Spot Plays

October 16th, 2010

By Jude T. Feld

QE II @ the races

Queen Elizabeth II enjoys her afternoons at the horse races but won’t make this year’s Challenge Cup (G1) named after her.
BBC PHOTO

We’ve been clicking right along with some nice winners and a great string of place prices. Our standard wager is one unit to win and two units place, so we have been visiting the cashier frequently enough to be on a first-name basis.

If you are stuck in your handicapping this afternoon, consider backing the horse ridden by Ramon Dominguez. With many of Keeneland’s top riders out of town, he has a magnificent list of live mounts today.

3rd) DISTANT SKY showed good improvement when stretched out by trainer Eoin Harty for his last start. He worked a “bullet” five furlongs over the Keeneland Poly five days ago, tipping his fitness. Dominguez rides at 6-1 on the morning line.

4th) We’re not familiar with embracing Charles Town shippers at Keeneland but DEAR GRACE has solid form for a $10,000 claiming filly. She hasn’t been out of the money in over a year, has been training forwardly and was flattered when the horse she finished second to in her last start came back to win. Her trainer, Brad Cox, is winning at a 32% clip in 2010, so we’ll take a shot with her.

7th) TARRIP owns the best speed figures in this field. She prepped in a mile and a quarter race at Belmont, chasing a slow pace and should find this distance and field more to her liking. Jockey Julien Leparoux certainly won’t hinder her chances.