WEEKEND AT KEENELAND: It was a chalk-players festival on Saturday as there was one lone double-digit Win ticket ($50.12 in Race 9). Other than that, the 9-race average Win ticket returned a mere $6.44. Hardly enough for a giant Keeneland dog, with kraut. Junior Alvarado was the lone rider with a pair of scores. Chad Brown was the lone conditioner with two wins. Cherie DeVaux’s SHE FEELS PRETTY captured the featured stakes, Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup, returning $5.08 to Win. As for Sunday, racing fans will be treated to an outstanding nine-race card, highlighted by Race 8 G2 $350K Franklin Stakes, a turf sprint for fillies. First race post time is 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) Let’s take a look at Mr. Ed’s Keeneland picks.
Mr. Ed’s Keeneland Picks for Sunday, October 13
Race 2 (1:32 p.m. ET/10:32 a.m. PT) — $49K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s choice is #9 REFUAH (4-1 morning line) for veteran owner-trainer David Jacobson and ridden by Ramon Vazquez. As a reward for a dull effort in July at the Spa, the gelding was given a lengthy break. I’m looking for him to return fresh as a fiddle.
KEENELAND PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 3 (2:04 p.m. ET/11:04 a.m. PT) — $175K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #5 UNSUNG MELODY (3-1 morning line) sneaky-good trainer John Ortiz, who hires sharp Luis Saez to saddle up. Pitch her last in minor Churchill stakes. New rider, class drop and stretch out will have filly singing a different song.
KEENELAND PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:36 p.m. ET/11:36 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes three: #3 SERVING TIME (5-1 morning line) for powerful DeVaux-J. Ortiz team; #7 NECESSITY (4-1) for Norm Casse, who adds blinkers, and #12 LADY AUTHENTIC (8-1) for the red hot duo of Brown & Gaffalione.
KEENELAND PICK: $5 Exacta Box of 3,7,12. ($30)
Race 6 (3:40 p.m. ET/12:20 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 1 ½-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes a pair of queens: #8 MARKSMAN QUEEN (6-1 morning line) with “just visiting” jockey Frankie Dettori and #9 QUEEN REGENT (9-2) with Tyler Gaffalione, and #3 LUCKY COMBINATION (6-1). Guess that says it all.
KEENELAND PICK: $5 Exacta Box of 3,8,12. ($30)
Race 7 (4:12 p.m. ET/1:12 p.m. PT) — $1 PICK 3
R7: 2,4,7
R8: 1,3,6,9
R9: 4,7,9 ($36)
TOTAL WAGERS $126
THE WEEK AHEAD: After his fun-every-minute return to the bluegrass country, Mr. Ed will take a few days off to recharge his batteries (and bet NFL). He’ll return on Wednesday with more of his picks at Keeneland.
NFL: 3-2*
TENNESSEE TITANS -3
(*against spread)
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