0-for-2 on Wednesday, with REALM OF LAW running second @ 6/5 odds. PURPLE DREAM finished fourth @ 4/1 odds.
Keeneland – Race 1
#1 RUTHIN (2/1 ml)
The shorter-priced of the two Ward runners (the other being PAMMY’S READY @ 3/1 ml), RUTHIN brought $475k at the Tattersalls yearling sale, which was the highest price paid for a freshman sire. She’s a half-sister to HIT THE BID, who won multiple turf sprints including a couple of Group 3’s. More recently, she worked a couple of times with the above-mentioned PAMMY’S READY, but most notably worked heads-up from the gate on April 5 with CHI TOWN LADY, who came out of that drill to win gate-to-wire by 3 lengths as a heavy favorite. Appears set to run well today.
Keeneland – Race 3
#6 CARTEL QUEEN (2/1 ml)
I haven’t caught this Tom Amoss filly working with anyone of note, but she’s been working very quickly, following up a nice 34.60 drill with a pair of gate moves that were best-of-114 and best-of-101, respectively. That’s not something I ever remember seeing from an Amoss 2yo @ Keeneland. This is the first 2yo he’s started at the meet (and all year), so she definitely sticks out. Obviously she’ll draw some attention here, but should still be very playable with the presence of the two Ward runners. Should run well.
As for her competition, one filly that will probably be overlooked here is the Calhoun entrant WHY BEHAVE (8/1 ml), who outworked her unraced barnmate RESTLESS EYES on March 27. Same connections as TEJANO TWIST, who ran a close second on Sunday.
As far as the two Ward entrants (who are each listed at 5/2 ml), I think the one to watch is GOLDEN BELL, who was entered Sunday (scratched in favor of OVERBORE, who was much the best in that race). GOLDEN BELL was actually a filly entered vs. colts in that race (she faces fillies here), which seems to be a nice angle with the Ward 2yo’s, as recent impressive winner KAUFYMAKER fit that description before flipping in the paddock and being scratched in her debut. Recent sharp second-place finisher HAPPY SOUL also fit that description.
Maiden Focus record:
Win record: 31-for-129 (24% winners)
Total mutuels: $261.60 ($8.44 average win price)
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