We continue with part two of our look at the stakes heavy card at Keeneland. Here we will look at the Shakertown Stakes where the horses will sprint on the grass. Then we close our portion of the card with the Blue Grass stakes, which is the final 200-point race of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Keeneland Race 9 – Shakertown Stakes (Grade 2)
We head back to the turf here as we have horses sprinting in the Shakertown Stakes. Eleven horses will go five and a half furlongs on the turf.
Favored in this stakes race is the 2 Our Shot (7/2 ML). He finished mid-pack in the Turf Dash at Tampa in his first race in almost five months. He returns today looking to bounce back from that performance in his second race off of a layoff.
The 10 Coppola (6/1 ML) is the speed of the race and if he isn’t pressured from the start, this race could be over quickly. He was last seen at Gulfstream winning the Gulfstream Park Turf Spring going gate to wire. If he doesn’t make the lead, then we might be looking at a horse who we might have wished to refuse.
The 6 No Nay Hudson (12/1 ML) is second race off of a layoff after finishing fourth in a stake at the Fair Grounds. He prefers to stalk the pace but was dueling for the lead in his return.
The 3 Arzak (4/1 ML) closed well in the Janus at Gulfstream back in December. She’s been training well at Fair Hill for today and should be fit off of those workouts on their Tapeta surface. He has fired fresh in the past and can do so again.
Joe’s Shakertown Pick
I like the fact that Coppola could be setting the pace alone here. If he isn’t pressured too much, he can go gate to wire here. I’ll take him to win here. I’m calling this 10-6-3-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 10.
Keeneland Race 10 – Blue Grass Stakes (Grade 1)
We have the main event of the card today as we look at the Blue Grass Stakes. We have a field of seven three-year-olds entered in the final 200-point race of the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Favored is the 1 River Thames (5/2 ML). He was caught on the wire in the Fountain of Youth last time out at Gulfstream. Look for him to stalk, but I would not be surprised if he gets caught in a speed duel here.
The 4 Owen Almighty (3/1 ML) won going gate to wire in the Tampa Bay Derby last month. He will go for the lead here like he has in the last three races. There are some potential distance limitations with this colt, but he keeps winning.
The 3 Burnham Square (9/2 ML) was a beaten favorite in the Fountain of Youth. He did not have his closing kick like he had in the Holy Bull. He was wide all the way around the track which didn’t help either. Also, the longer stretch here at Keeneland as opposed to the short stretch for the mile and a sixteenth Fountain of Youth will help as well.
The 5 East Avenue (3/1 ML) showed little in his return from a three-month layoff in the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds. He returns today at Keeneland and could be a wise guy play. He won the Breeders’ Futurity here last fall at Keeneland. Could he be the horse that goes with Owen Almighty?
Joe’s Blue Grass Pick
This race has the potential of being a speed duel and shapes up nicely for Burnham Square. He will win this race and be on his way to Churchill Downs for the Derby. Look for his closing kick here today.
I’m calling this race 3-1-5-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 3. Best of luck everyone and I will see you in the winner’s circle!
