You know it is October in Kentucky as racing shifts to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington. It’s also the start of a big weekend across the country as we have Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races across the country this weekend.
Keeneland Race 9 – Alcibiades Stakes (Grade 1)
This race, the Alcibiades, is a Grade 1 race that will give the winner a bid in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. We have eight juvenile fillies going a mile and a sixteenth in today’s race.
Favored in the Alcibiades is the 8 Immersive (2/1 ML). She has won her first two races at Saratoga, with the last being the Grade 1 Spinaway. This filly was not far off the pace and took over in deep stretch. She is the daughter of the 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. We will see if she can handle two turns for the first time today like her father did time and time again.
While Immersive started from the inside in the Spinaway, the 7 Quietside was on the outside. She veered out at the start of the race and was four-wide on the turn. She could not hold off the winner that day, but a straighter start should help her today.
The 6 Quickick (4/1 ML) might have the best closing kick in this field. There will be a ton of action on the front end, and like the 8 Immersive, might be the filly to pick up the pieces here like she did at Saratoga on closing weekend.
The 2 Sherbini (8/1 ML) finished third in the Spinaway at Saratoga but has the excuse of being extremely wide on the turn. She will go two turns today and looks to be another closer here in a race with tons of speed.
Joe’s pick
With all the speed that is in the race, including horses that I did not mention in this article, this is setting up nicely for those that will be closing in the stretch. This sets up nicely for the 2, 6 and 8. I will take the 6 Quickick in a slight upset here at Keeneland in the Alcibiades Stakes. I’ll call this 6-8-2-7 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck everyone!
Also check out Also Eligible on Saturday at 10 am Eastern Time, as Frank and I will be looking at the five graded stakes races on the card at Keeneland.
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern and Wednesday nights at 10 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up. Also, catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.