Keeneland | Horse Racing Free Tips

NY-Bred Firster Looks To Give Arrogate Another Japanese Winner

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Nakayama Racecourse. The feature of the weekend is Sunday's fan-voted G1 Arima Kinen, the preview for which will appear in Saturday's TDN:

Saturday, December 23, 2023
6th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
BLUE WHIRL (c, 2, Arrogate–Ignite, by Jump Start) is the first foal from a stakes-placed half-sister to MSP Instructor Kunu (E Dubai) and MSP Belial (Tritap) and looks to become the 15th winner from 17 Japanese starters for his sadly departed stallion. A $90,000 purchase as a weanling by McMahon and Hill out of 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale, the dark bay colt was led out unsold on a bid of $140,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Takeshi Yokoyama, who will finish third in this year's Japanese jockeys' premiership, has the riding assignment. B-The New Hill Farm (NY)

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Keeneland’s 2024 Spring Stakes Schedule Features 100th Toyota Blue Grass

In addition to awarding a season record $8.1 million for their 19 stakes races over the course of the meet running from Apr. 5-26, Keeneland will also celebrate the 100th running of the $1-million GI Toyota Blue Grass S. this spring. A total of $1.5 million is being contributed to the stakes purses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“Lucrative purses and outstanding competition make Keeneland's Spring Meet a highlight of the racing calendar for horsemen, horseplayers and fans during the first half of the year,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “We look forward to hosting the country's best horses and their connections here in April.”

A spring fixture for 3-year-olds with an eye on the Kentucky Derby, and an informal Lexington holiday, the Blue Grass has been held at Keeneland since the track's first spring meet in April 1937 and was first sponsored by Toyota in 1996. Run on the first Saturday of the Keeneland season, the race carries a lucrative 100 points for the first Saturday in May for the winner. It leads four others on the day including the GI Madison S., the GII Appalachian S., the GII Shakertown S., and the GIII Commonwealth S.

Running on Keeneland's opening day will be the 86th rendition of the GI Central Bank Ashland S., the GIII Transylvania S., and the Lafayette S. The first named carries 100 points toward the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Early nominations for the Oaks and Derby preps are due by Feb. 17, and late nominations are due Mar. 20.

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Keeneland Adds Eight Horses To 2024 January Horses Of All Ages Sale

With a total of 1,467 entries, Keeneland has supplemented eight horses to the 2024 January Horses of All Ages Sale, which will cover four sessions Jan. 8-11, the organization said in a release Thursday.

Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, as a broodmare prospect, Dolce Zel (hip 839) concluded her racing career in November at Del Mar by winning the Kathryn Crosby S. The daughter of Zelzal (Fr) was a winner in her native France and in 2022 won or placed in five of six races–all stakes–led by victories in the GIII Lake George S. at Saratoga and the GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa.

Good Sam (hip 1154) debuted a juvenile winner and then followed that with a 3 1/2-length score in the 2022 Tempted S. First or second in five of her six lifetime starts, Good Sam is by Good Samaritan out of the Twirling Candy mare Twizzler. Consigned by ELiTE, agent, she is offered as a broodmare prospect.

Additional supplements are:

Classic Performer (hip 1155), a winning daughter of Mendelssohn consigned by Denali Stud, agent. Out of High Performer, by Candy Ride (ARG), she is from the family of Grade I winner Wicked Strong.
Disruption (hip 1486), a winning daughter of Practical Joke cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect and consigned by Lane's End, agent.
Geolocation (GB) (hip 1485), a daughter of Too Darn Hot offered as a broodmare prospect by Lane's End, agent.
My Happy Holiday (hip 1484), a daughter of Runhappy cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect. Lane's End, agent, consigns My Happy Holiday.
A yearling colt by Kantharos (hip 1482), who is the first foal out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Golden Ibis (FR) and is a consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.
A yearling colt by Yaupon (hip 1483), who is consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent.

Click here to access the online catalogue.

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What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Cherie Devaux

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com

“There were so many, it is hard to narrow it down to just one. I would have to say the one that will stick with me is winning the GII Raven Run with Vahva. There is something magical about racing at Keeneland and to be able to make the walk to the infield with a filly that has meant a lot to me since we purchased her, was something special.”
–Cherie DeVaux, Trainer

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