US Horse Racing Tips: Two to follow at Keeneland on Friday

Paul Quigley, our US racing expert, is back on Friday to provide insight into the day's action taking place across the Atlantic. Keeneland is the track that catches his eye, as he has picked out two runners to follow.

Check out his latest US Horse Racing Tips below.

21:44 Keeneland (Race 8) – Beer Run (3) @ SP

Contention may be half a dozen deep here. Wes Ward has made his usual fine start to this Keeneland Spring Meet. He is double-handed here. His Double Talker (7) won a maiden here on debut a year ago.

He followed that up with a stakes third at Churchill last May. He’s not raced since but a long absence is not often an issue for his trainer’s runners. There may be a lot better to come from him on his three-year old debut and first time on the turf.

His stablemate Beer Run (3) took an age to break his maiden. Since then both his races against winners were good ones. Last time out in November, he split a couple of next-time-out winners. He has tactical speed to get a good early position from his draw. It may be worth chancing his fitness under Jose Ortiz.         

There is a decent argument to be made that Atlal (1) is the runner to beat. He ran his best race to date when cut back to sprinting at Turfway last month. The rail drawn runner was a neck second to a talented horse.

He may have held on if his rider hadn’t made a big middle move into a fast pace. His maiden win did come on the turf so the so surface switch is not a problem. Like him, Strate Cash (6) last raced at Turfway.

He ran evenly in January. He’s been freshened up and gets back on the footing he broke his maiden on. The four year old is one of the likely improvers in here. Another is Unitas (10). Her confirmed his debut promise to break his maiden second time out at The Fair Grounds. Flavien Prat now takes the ride.     

Uncle Bucky (9) has been knocking on the door in similar races at Turfway. If there is a speed to chase down, he’s a likely late player.

22:16 Keeneland (Race 9) – The Doubledogdare (Grade 2) – Eunomia (3) @ SP

Keeneland is a track that horses can excel at, often leaving their form at other venues behind. Gin Gin (4) is one of those horses for courses. She has won both her starts here. The latest was a Grade 1 last October where she beat a pair of top notcher’s. The other was this race last year. That five-length victory came off a similar lay off than today. She looks the gal to beat.    

The other runner likely to take money here is Alpine Princess (1). Not just because she is trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz. She has ran well in her last three races, all graded stakes. She won a Grade 3 at Churchill in November and ran second in another at Gulfstream on her comeback. The five-length winner paid a big compliment to that form by winning a Grade 1 next time.  

Eunomia (3) needs things to go her way to win this. She still may be the play as the third or even fourth choice in the market. Only a neck separated her and Alpine Princess (1) at Gulfstream in February. She has since won a stake at Colonial Downs. The four year is two from two at Keeneland. She has tactical speed so Flavian Prat should be able to work out a good trip no matter what the pace scenario. 

The other filly who will take money here is Running Away (6). She won back to back stakes including a Grade 3 on her last two starts on dirt. The four year old has not raced this year. A long absence is often not a problem to a Wes Ward trained runner. If she is part of a contested pace brigade Ourdaydreaminggirl (5) and Chilled (8) may be late players.    

Peignoir (7) is in fine form, winning a stake at Oaklawn last month. This is a step up in class. Even more so for Aye Candy (2). She has won back-to-back stakes at Sunland Park and is unexposed over route distances.

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