Race Preview: Giant's Causeway Stakes - Keeneland, April 20, 2013

The first of the stake races on Saturday at Keeneland is the $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes, which for some reason is a five and one have furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares. Naming issues aside, ten will line up with Sweet Cassiopeia the 5-2 morning line favorite.

By Five Star Day, Sweet Cassiopeia had win four straight races going back to September 2012. Her last two races have been turf sprints and she can only get better in her second start off the layoff.

Yesterday we saw the Doubledogdare won wire to wire on the main track and could Rosa Salvaje have a similar theft on her mind? The five-year-old mare drew the rail and looks to be the speed of the speed. Her last two wins came with jockey Alex Solis in the irons and he is back for the ride on Saturday. The only other filly that may show speed is Kiss in the Forest for trainer George Arnold. Arnold also was the trainer of Ice Cream Silence, who won the Doubledogdare. Kiss in the Forest is one-for-one over the Keeneland turf, an angle that can never be counted out.

The others to consider, who will all be doing their best running late, are Extravaganza, Sensible Lady and Spun Cap.

First post on Saturday is 1:05 ET with the Giant's Causeway off at 4:42. The late pick-4 starts one race earlier with allowance fillies and mares.