Keeneland - Bewitch Stakes, April 24, 2014
Keeneland 8 | 4:42 pm ET
G3 Bewitch for 4&Up F&M going 1-1/2 mi (T)
ROMANTICA has not been out since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November, but enters this Grade 3 as the mare to beat. Aside from the layoff, bettors could also be concerned about the distance. In France she was a winner at 10 furlongs, but was winless in two starts at this longer distance. Of course her third best of 117 drill on April 19 may suggest the layoff will not be a problem. She is a must use in any trifecta, superfecta, pick-4 or pick-5 wager. It's not easy to wire this type of race at Keeneland, but that is just what VIVA RAFAELA will try to do. A Brazilian-bred by an Irish-bred stallion, VIVA RAFAELA won a Group 1 in Brazil in 2012, but only has an allowance win in her six U.S. starts. She is; however, lone speed and will take them as far as she can. A key handicapping angle for Keeneland turf races is previous experience over the course, which gives ANGEL TERRACE a long shot look. She won a division of the Grade 3 Valley View in October 2012 and was third in the mile and one-half furlong Dowager last year. A mare that could hit the board at a price and may be worth a bet at long odds is the Neil Drysdale trained FREEDOM REIGNS, who is making her third start off a layoff and will love this added distance. Drysdale has to have this race in mind when he shipped her from Southern California.
ROMANTICA has not been out since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November, but enters this Grade 3 as the mare to beat. Aside from the layoff, bettors could also be concerned about the distance. In France she was a winner at 10 furlongs, but was winless in two starts at this longer distance. Of course her third best of 117 drill on April 19 may suggest the layoff will not be a problem. She is a must use in any trifecta, superfecta, pick-4 or pick-5 wager. It's not easy to wire this type of race at Keeneland, but that is just what VIVA RAFAELA will try to do. A Brazilian-bred by an Irish-bred stallion, VIVA RAFAELA won a Group 1 in Brazil in 2012, but only has an allowance win in her six U.S. starts. She is; however, lone speed and will take them as far as she can. A key handicapping angle for Keeneland turf races is previous experience over the course, which gives ANGEL TERRACE a long shot look. She won a division of the Grade 3 Valley View in October 2012 and was third in the mile and one-half furlong Dowager last year. A mare that could hit the board at a price and may be worth a bet at long odds is the Neil Drysdale trained FREEDOM REIGNS, who is making her third start off a layoff and will love this added distance. Drysdale has to have this race in mind when he shipped her from Southern California.
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