Keeneland Fall Meet Opening Weekend 2015

Wise Dan was paraded through the paddock after his recent retirement on day 2 of the fall meet. Fans, Keeneland employees, and horseplayers alike couldn’t resist turning to watch as he passed and there were smiles all around as he went by. His history is intrinsically intertwined with Keeneland’s, through a long illustrious career. The highlights were recited by announcer Kurt Becker as Wise Dan walked down the track once more, making it even clearer why so many had paused and turned to watch this living legend pass their way.

As for the day’s racing, the Grade 3 Woodford Stakes was part of the track’s traditional Fallstars weekend, good horses and top races being a sort of prelude to the Breeders’ Cup at month’s end.

: Shore Runner

: Shore Runner

: Holy Lute, a son of one of my favorite sires (Midnight Lute)

: The eye-catching Holy Lute

: Holy Lute

: Shore Runner and jockey Kendrick Carmouche

: Hogy

: Sharp Sensation and Victor Espinoza. I think that is the first time I’ve seen him ride at Keeneland. For sure, he certainly drew attention this time as racing’s first Triple Crown winner in decades.

: Holy Lute

: Holy Lute

: Holy Lute

: Amelia’s Wild Ride captures the victory in the Woodford Stakes.

The “parade” of stakes races continued with the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America. Champion and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Judy the Beauty was among the entrants, eventually placing third.

: Judy the Beauty

: Judy the Beauty

: Desert Valley

: At the wire, the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes belonged to Fioretti.

The next stakes race on tap that I watched was the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity for two-year-olds. It was won by Brody’s Cause and Corey Lanerie.

: Pinnacle Peak

The Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile concluded the stakes races for the first Saturday of the fall meet.

: Skyring enters the paddock for the Shadwell Turf Mile. Most unfortunately, the Calumet-owned horse and multiple graded stakes winner was the second horse to break down during the card. RIP Skyring.

: King Kreesa

: Jack Milton

: Eventual race winner Grand Arch awaits his jockey.

: The aptly-named Heart to Heart

: #6 Heart to Heart’s heart marking was even more distinct from a distance

: And they’re off in the Shadwell Turf Mile!

: Grand Arch begins cruising home…

: …but not without challengers!

Keeneland Fall Meet, Day 3

: Prince Derek

: Handiwork

: Boss Hawg

: Boss Hawg

: Boss Hawg

: Boss Hawg wins race 1 on day 3 of the Keeneland meet

: Tree Top Lover

: Horsetailspeedster

: #6, Macho Brew, wins race 2

: A preview of things to come… and hopefully the weather is as perfect as this too

: Barrymore and jockey Jesus Castanon

: Wayward Sailor

: Whatthecatdrugin

: Bad Student and jockey Sophie Doyle take the lead in race 3

: and hold on for the victory

: Stardom Found, full sibling to Stardom Bound

: Pennmarydel, Barbaro’s full sibling

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Pennmarydel

: Gaslamp

: Gaslamp

: A picture perfect day at Keeneland

: Farz and jockey Jose Lezcano win

The Grade 3 Dixiana Bourbon

: Victor Espinoza is swarmed by a crowd outside the jockeys’ quarters. I can’t recall seeing him ride at Keeneland before, so it was cool to see the latest Triple Crown winning jockey here. Plus he always seemed so humble and like such a wonderful racing ambassador.

: Unbridled Daddy

The Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster

: Mei Ling

: Lovely Maria

: Untapable

: Got Lucky, so named because of how many times it took her dam to get in foal to A.P. Indy in the waning days of his fertility. It finally worked and a name was born along with this filly.

: Got Lucky

: And they’re off in the Juddmonte Spinster!

: Champion Untapable got in a real slugfest to try for the victory, but in the end it was all Got Lucky’s race, and she became one of A.P. Indy’s last and latest G1 winners.