Keeneland | Horse Racing Free Tips

Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: March 6 & 7, 2021

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 weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:

Saturday, March 6, 2021
4th-NKY, ¥13,830,000 ($129k), Allowance, 3yo, 1200m
LINCOLN TESORO (c, 3, Carpe Diem–Santa Vindi, by Vindication), a half-brother to GSW Flexibility (Bluegrass Cat), graduated first off a five-month absence over track and distance Dec. 19 (video, gate 6) and was a sound third in his first start against winners Jan. 23. The $75K Keeneland September acquisition is out of a daughter of MGSW Santa Catalina (Cure the Blues), the dam of GISW Golden Missile (A.P. Indy). Santa Vindi was purchased for $150K with this colt in utero at KEENOV in 2017. B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY)

Sunday, March 7, 2021
2nd-HSN, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 2000m
Godolphin's JOYOUS CHANT (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Sweet Chant, by Distorted Humor) debuted with a respectable fifth-place effort in a nine-furlong turf event for newcomers at Tokyo Feb. 6 and switches to the dirt for this second go. A $140K purchase as a weanling at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the chestnut is out of a half-sister to Campanologist (Kingmambo), who carried the Godolphin bl ue to multiple Group 1 successes in Germany and Italy and pattern scores in England and in the UAE. Joyous Chant is bred on a variant of the El Prado (Ire) cross over Distorted Humor that has been responsible for the likes of Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty (Aus), and US Grade I winners Elate and New Money Honey. B-Teneri Farm, Bernardo A Calderon & Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey (KY)

4th-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
ERIE TESORO (f, 3, California Chrome–Celtic Chant, by Songandaprayer), a $130K KEENOV weanling turned $235K KEESEP yearling, has one run under her belt, a well-beaten fifth going this distance at Chukyo Jan. 30. The chestnut is out of a stakes-winning dam who has already bred GSP Irish Mischief (Into Mischief). The filly's third dam produced GISW Vicar (Wild Again), GSW Navesink River (Unbridled) and SW Sheepscot (Easy Goer), the dam of French Classic winner Astronomer Royal (Danzig). B-Clarkland Farm LLC (KY)

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Mike Stidham Talks Mystic Guide, Godolphin, Arlington On Writers’ Room

With over 2,000 wins and dozens of graded stakes scores on his resume, Mike Stidham has well established himself as a top trainer in this business. But as of yet, his stable hasn't quite found its breakout star–one that can take him to Breeders' Cup glory and maybe even an Eclipse Award or two. That may have changed with the arrival of Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) in Stidham's barn two years ago, as the Godolphin blueblood has steadily developed into a budding star, fresh off a jaw-dropping victory in the GIII Razorback H. and headed for an engagement in the G1 Dubai World Cup. Wednesday morning, Stidham joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to discuss his plans for Mystic Guide, how the Godolphin racing and breeding operation works, the demise of his beloved Arlington Park and more.

“As you can see from his past performances, we took our time with him. We spaced his races,” Stidham said of Mystic Guide's steady progression. “There were a lot of temptations because it had been moved to September to still try to make the Derby. He just always seemed like he was a step or two behind some of the top 3-year-olds last year. So we gave him the time and felt like he had really moved forward late in the year. At that point, again there was temptation to try him in the Breeders' Cup, but we decided to do the right thing and get him ready for his 4-year-old year. We never turned him out, we just lightened up on his training and I felt really confident from a maturity standpoint, mentally and physically, he had gone the right way. So the [Razorback] performance was not surprising.”

Asked about the surging Godolphin racing operation in America and how it operates across several trainers, Stidham commented, “When you look at the stallion power of these horses–Tapit, Hard Spun, Curlin–then you look down and you see mares like Panty Raid, Music Note, it's only a matter of time until they start to do what they're doing. Interestingly enough, the trainers never see the 2-year-olds until they walk into their barn. I know that Jimmy [Bell] makes trips down to Ocala where they're in training, mostly with Eddie Woods, Niall Brennan, David Scanlon, but we don't know anything about what we're getting until we get a list sent to our email. Until they walk into our barn, we've never seen them before. I think they try to somewhat fit horses to the programs that we're running and obviously they've done a great job, because it's working really well.”

Stidham has been a mainstay at Arlington Park in the summer for several years and has won multiple training titles there. But the news is not good for the Chicago-area plant, as it appears Churchill Downs will abandon racing there after 2021. He didn't mince words when asked his feelings about those developments.

“I'm very, very disappointed in the way Churchill has handled Arlington. I think it's total disrespectful to the Illinois horsemen,” he said. “For me, Arlington was like a national park would be for the public, where you cherish it, and for anybody to go in and tear it down and make it into a residential area because it's better for the stockholders shows no respect for the tradition of Arlington or the horsemen who fought for so many years to try to get gaming there to bolster Illinois racing. For them to walk along with the horsemen for all those years acting like they wanted gaming, then finally get it and then just flat turn it down because they got involved with a casino 15 miles away and didn't want the competition, it's just horrible and sad. It's a very sad day in racing to lose Arlington Park.”

Elsewhere in the show, the writers talked to TDN European editor Emma Berry about the Gordon Elliott story, reacted to a big weekend of 3-year-old racing and, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, broke down the implications of the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-Paco Lopez fight. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version.

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Bell’s the One Gearing Up For Return

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), who became the first Grade I winner for trainer Neil Pessin in last year's Derby City Distaff ahead of a third-place effort to champion 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 (9/36) at the Fair Grounds Feb. 28. Pessin confirmed that the GI Madison S. at Keeneland Apr. 4, in which his charge was a pace-compromised third in the coronavirus-delayed 2020 renewal last July, is the jumping-off spot for the mare's 5-year-old campaign.

“She's doing very well and we are right on schedule to run at Keeneland,” the affable conditioner said Monday from New Orleans.

Following the Filly & Mare Sprint, where she was beaten by the nose of Serengeti Empress (Alternation) for second, Bell's the One was turned out for six weeks at Chesapeake Farm in Lexington. Pessin said she arrived at the Fair Grounds in early January, galloped for about a month and has turned in four breezes since.

“She's on a weekly training schedule, just depends on the weather and the track,” Pessin said. “We're pretty happy with where we are right now, so we do have some flexibility if needed. I'm not on a tight schedule. She'll be ready to rock and roll when Keeneland comes around.”

The trainer has no reservations about training up to the Madison.

“Very,” he said when asked about his level of confidence running in the Madison without a prep. “I have a lot of confidence in her. I'll be honest with you, if my filly runs her race–there has to be a little bit of a pace set-up for her at Keeneland–but with any sort of pace whatsoever, she ought to be tough. I don't think Gamine is coming and I'm really not worried about anything else.”

Pessin has never been one to rack up big numbers, but my any metric, 2020 was a banner year, with a victory in the GIII Winning Colors S. over an insufficient six-furlong trip in addition to the Derby City Distaff, where she got just the better of Serengeti Empress following a final-furlong throwdown.

“Well, winning the Derby City Distaff was nice, especially the fashion we did it,” he said. “Breeders' Cup, if we'd have been second–we had to wait a little bit turning for home and I think it cost us the nose. But with that being said, she ran a big race.

He continued, “Overall, having a horse like her in the barn is very exciting, makes you want to get up in the morning. I do wish she'd have been a finalist in the [Eclipse] balloting, because I do think she belonged on the list. We ran against Serengeti [Empress] twice, we beat her a nose and she beat us a nose. I feel we could have beaten her in the Breeders' Cup with a little more luck. I hope we get a shot to win one or two more Grade Is this year and she stays healthy and everything goes well.”

As for the rest of this year, Pessin said that the team will chart a course backwards from this year's Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6 following her first two starts. From there, her future remains an open question.

“I would say it depends on how healthy she stays and how well she runs,” Pessin said. “Bob breeds his own, but that doesn't necessarily mean she'll go straight to the breeding shed when this year is over.

“I want to do whatever is best for her,” Pessin added. “If I think she is 100% good to go for another year, then it'd be up to Bob and [racing manager] Drew [Nardiello] whether to race her or not. But I won't race her unless she's 100%.”

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Keeneland ‘Eager To Welcome Fans,’ Unveils Spring Meet Ticketing Plans

Keeneland today released plans to offer fans a limited number of ticket packages for dining, Reserved Grandstand seating and General Admission for the 2021 Spring Meet, to be held April 2-23. All ticket packages were designed in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols and will be pre-sold online in two phases.

Fans are encouraged to visit Keeneland.com/tickets for information on Spring Meet ticket options and the process to purchase.

“Keeneland is eager to welcome fans, although fewer in number, back this spring for what promises to be an exciting race meet,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We have missed our fans as much as they've missed Keeneland, particularly at this time of year as we shake off winter to celebrate the return of spring. While we are still limited in capacity, our team is hard at work creating unique touches that will deliver the exceptional and safe race-day experience our guests expect from Keeneland. And for those fans who can't attend in person, Keeneland will provide ways for you to enjoy your race-day traditions from the comfort of your home.”

Keeneland has worked to ensure the most fair ticket selection process possible given the anticipated demand and to create a safe and fun on-site environment for its guests. In addition, Keeneland will offer a 48-hour cancellation policy without penalty.

Beginning Monday, March 8, fans may apply for the opportunity to purchase a table for six in the fourth-floor Lexington/Kentucky Room or Phoenix Room or up to six Reserved Grandstand seat ticket packages on specific race days.

Fans may purchase General Admission ticket packages online on a first-come, first-served basis starting Wednesday, March 24. A maximum of six tickets may be purchased per order.

Reserved Grandstand and General Admission ticket packages will include admission, a race-day program and a concession allowance. Dining ticket packages will include admission, a race-day program and a prix fixe three-course meal.

Keeneland will continue to enforce COVID-19 protocols during the Spring Meet and implement new initiatives with regard to mobile ticketing and cashless payment to further create a safe environment for all guests.

Keeneland's new ticketing platform enables patrons to complete their ticketing purchase online and to add tickets to their mobile wallet for easy scanning at the admission gates. Additionally, all Grandstand and General Admission ticket packages will include a $10 concession card and concession stands will feature new meal deals for lunch, all aimed to reduce wait times in lines as well as the amount of cash transactions.

As always, all forms of seating at Keeneland, including dining tables, outdoor boxes, pods of tickets in the Reserved Grandstand area and Grandstand benches, will be kept at a social distance.

All individuals will be required to wear a face mask and maintain proper social distancing while on the grounds. Health screenings and temperature checks will resume at all entrance gates for the race meet.

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