A Magnificent Two Days of Racing!

A magnificent two days of racing are scheduled for this Friday and Saturday. The two big races that everyone will be paying attention to are, obviously, the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, but several of our veteran geldings are scheduled to race over the next two days as well. They are:

Cost of Freedom – The eight-year-old gelding will be making his first start since finishing third in the Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes in Saturday’s Cool Frenchy Stakes at Hollywood Park. He is the 4-5 morning line favorite in a field of six. Up against him will be 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Dancing in Silks and 2009 Malibu Stakes winner M One Rifle. You can watch the race at www.calracing.com!

Garden Dancer – Even at nine years of age, Garden Dancer is still capable of winning claiming races at Beulah Park. On Saturday, he will compete in a $2,500 starter allowance race at Beulah. He, along with his stable mate, The Right Face, are the coupled morning line favorites at 5-2. Made the Steal, a winner of three of his six starts this year, could prove to be Garden Dancer’s stiffest competition.

Chamberlain Bridge – Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II) at Churchill Downs last year, Chamberlain Bridge returns to the site of that victory in Saturday’s Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. III). He is in pretty good form this year, having won the Rail Splitter Stakes at Sam Houston in February and finishing fourth in the Shakertown (gr. III) at Keeneland despite racing on the lead – something this deep closer doesn’t usually attempt. Bridgetown, winner of the Turf Dash Stakes and a stakes-caliber allowance race so far this year, will be tough to beat – but Chamberlain Bridge should be up to the challenge.

Awesome Gem – He may be old, but Awesome Gem just keeps on running. Winner of the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) and third in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), the eight-year-old gelding is entered in the Alysheba Stakes this afternoon at Churchill Downs. His performances this year have been less than stellar, but don’t count him out. After running third in his 2011 debut – an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields – and sixth in the Charles Town Classic (gr. III), he could be sharp enough to hit the board this afternoon. Go Awesome Gem!

And finally, Rapid Redux is entered to race in a starter allowance race at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. The even-money favorite on the morning line, he is riding a ten-race winning streak and fully intends to extend that streak to eleven later tonight. Seven other horses are lined up to face him, but I believe that Rapid Redux will win the one-mile event with ease.

Enjoy the races everyone!

-Keelerman