Ramsey entry anchors Late Pick 4 at Keeneland

Love opening day at Keeneland! The 17-day fall session kicks off today with a 10-race card featuring the Alcibiades (G1) and Phoenix (G2), preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and TwinSpires Sprint (G1), and fast and firm conditions are expected throughout the entire weekend.

I’ll focus on Friday’s Late Pick 4, building a pair of tickets with a $40 budget. Here are my thoughts on the sequence:

Race 7: A full field will contest the 1 3/16-mile entry-level turf allowance and morning-line favorites #1 Amnicalola and #10 Walking the Kitten can’t be dismissed given their recent form. #6 Inchargeofme registered a 95 BRIS Late Pace rating breaking her maiden win at Delaware Park last time and I’ll include the Shug McGaughey trainee. A pair of interesting longshots, expected pacesetter #4 Ellens Birthday and the late-running #5 Play the Break, will be added to the mix as well.

Race 8: #1 A.P. Indian is the most likely winner, establishing himself as the East Coast’s leading sprinter recording back-to-back Grade 1 wins in his last two starts, but the rail draw doesn’t help his chances and the odds-on favorite is 0-for-2 at Keeneland. He’ll be singled on the main ticket but I’ll use #4 Alsvid and a pair of horses with a proven affinity for the track, #3 Ami’s Flatter and #5 Limousine Liberal, on a back-up ticket.

Race 9: Considering 14 fillies were entered, the Alcibiades didn’t attract much early speed and I’ll tab #6 Caroline Test for a minor upset on the front end. #1 Fun and #11 Diadura also rate as a serious win contenders; they’ll be used on the back-up ticket with the expected pacesetter. I’ll spread even deeper in the contentious field with #3 Queen Bernardini, #4 Dancing Rags, #13 For Honor and #14 Daddys Lil Darling.

Race 10: Ken and Sarah Ramsey have been the leading owner 17 times at Keeneland, including the last four Fall Meet titles, and #1 Global Entry and #1A Collateral Kitten provide a formidable one-two punch in today’s finale. Global Entry exits an encouraging effort at Saratoga and figures to appreciate the switch in surfaces with his pedigree (Stormy Atlantic dam is a half-sister to an English Group 1 winner and Eskendereya). Collateral Kitten can move forward off a good runner-up at Kentucky Downs last out. I’ll single the entry on both tickets.

50-cent Pick 4 Tickets (Races 7-10)

1,4,5,6,10 with 1 with 1,3,4,6,11,13,14 with 1 ($22.50)
1,4,5,6,10 with 3,4,5 with 1,6,11 with 1 ($17.50)

Good luck!

(Coady Photo)