B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has acquired 50% ownership interest in the 3-year-old colt Keepmeinmind, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) last fall at Churchill Downs and currently second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 18 points.
“We are delighted to be a part of such an exciting young racehorse as Keepmeinmind, and thankful to Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith for the opportunity to join the team,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “We believe Keepmeinmind is poised for a big 3-year-old year. He demonstrated tremendous talent as a 2-year-old, placing twice in Grade Ones including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and finishing up the year in style with a convincing win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill.”
Campaigned by Cypress Creek LLC and Arnold Bennewith, Keepmeinmind will either make his seasonal debut in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) next Saturday at Fair Grounds – where he is entered in post 12 with jockey David Cohen – or the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park two days later on Presidents' Day.
Trained by Robertino Diodoro, the bay colt by Laoban most recently breezed a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat on Feb. 2 at Oaklawn. Autrey Bloodstock brokered the deal for Spendthrift to join the current ownership group.
As a 2-year-old, Keepmeinmind finished runner-up to champion Essential Quality in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in just his second start. He was also a fast-closing third to that colt in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile a month later, before breaking his maiden against stakes company in the Kentucky Jockey Club to close out a successful juvenile campaign.
An earner of $394,320 to date, Keepmeinmind is out of the Victory Gallop mare Inclination. He was bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables.
Keepmeinmind's final workout for his 3-year-old debut is scheduled for Monday at Oaklawn.
“There's a couple of variables,” Diodoro said concerning whether the colt goes in the Risen Star or Southwest. “I think we're going to wait and see the next 72 hours.”
Diodoro said the potential of bad weather and a compact Southwest field make the Risen Star an option for Keepmeinmind, who has been based at Oaklawn since late December.
“The short field here is a little bit of a concern with his running style,” said Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2020. “If you've got a speed horse, like a couple of guys do in the race, perfect having five, six horses. But when you have a come from behinder, that's not the most ideal thing.”
Diodoro said he plans to breeze Keepmeinmind at 10 a.m. (Central), following Monday's second surface renovation break. Keepmeinmind has had five published works this season at Oaklawn, including a five-furlong bullet move (:59) after the second break last Tuesday under regular rider David Cohen.
“Just a little quieter out there,” Diodoro said, referring to the late time.
Unbeaten Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest, trainer Brad Cox said. Essential Quality (3 for 3) was the country's champion 2-year-old male after winning the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Essential Quality has been based this winter at Fair Grounds.
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