By Joe Quillen
Thursday 4/11/24 – Keeneland Race 4
Welcome back to another edition of Quills Picks Winners, and we are headed today to rainy Lexington, Kentucky where we will look at an interesting race that I hope does not get decimated by scratches. Expect a sloppy track for this group of maidens aged three years old and up going six and a half furlongs on the main track. Post time is tentatively set for 2:36 pm Eastern time.
The 8 Jefferson Street is the even money morning line favorite here and is a three-year-old taking on older horses here. He comes in off of a VERY fast seven-furlong race last month at Gulfstream Park, but he was passed by Be You in the stretch and was nosed out by Big City. Be You may not have done much last Saturday in the Blue Grass, but if Jefferson Street does run here, he could be an impressive winner here.
Jefferson Street does have a chance to not miss a beat on the wet track. His father Street Sense does have his offspring win at an 18% clip (318 for 1753) on off tracks. A clean start today, which he did not have last out, could be the difference between graduating or being entered in another maiden race in a few weeks.
The 3 Midway Lights (9/2 ML) lost any chance of winning his debut last month at Aqueduct when he broke inward towards the rail. He did run well at the end of the race, but he will need a better start to contend here. He definitely will be better after his debut last out.
Next door to Midway Lights is a fellow second timer in the 4 Cage Match (3/1 ML) who had a better debut who finished second to the runaway winner in the same race last month at Aqueduct.
The 1 Rock N Roll Bolt (6/1 ML) went for the lead last time out at the Fair Grounds in an off the turf route race. He may be better suited for the turf, but he might sneak in here if things go a bit crazy on the front end. He doesn’t look like he’s a need the lead horse.
In the end here, this is all about Jefferson Street graduating today. If he runs, he wins. Plain and simple. If he is scratched, check my Twitter (@JoeQuills) and I will try to get my backup pick out. Anyways, let’s call this 8-3-4-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 8. Good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- We are starting to get back on track here. After a very cold stretch over the last couple of weeks, we had winners on Sunday in Keeneland, the first of the two races at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and then yesterday at Tampa Bay Downs. We are still in a deficit overall, but as of right now, we are $42 ahead for the month of April so far!
- The big news that I revealed on my Twitch show on Tuesday was that I am hosting a Saturday horse racing show on Riptide Media and the digital network Sports Radio 102.9 the game. You will be able to watch on YouTube, Twitch and Twitter and listen on broadstsouth.com or on the Sports Radio 102.9FM The Game app on Apple or Android. Show is called Also Eligible and I will look over some of the big races and news in the horse racing world. I am excited to expand my brand further. Hope you join me starting on April 20 at 10 am Eastern time! Don’t worry, I will link everyone up on my Twitter!
Follow Joe on Twitter/Instagram/Threads @JoeQuills and check Joe’s sports stream podcast on Twitch every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 pm ET starting on Tuesday 4/9, and his YouTube channel where you can catch the show on demand.