If there’s something to the previous “horse for the course” saying, Arzak is the horse for the Woodford Stakes (G2T) Oct. 5 at Keeneland.
The 6-year-old son of Not This Time , skilled by Michael Trombetta, is 2-for-2 over the Keeneland turf. Whereas that is not an enormous pattern, the 2 wins have been sufficiently big—the 2023 Woodford and the Shakertown (G2T) on the similar 5 1/2 furlongs on April 6.
Arzak then went on from the Woodford win to complete sixth, crushed simply 2 lengths, within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
That file places to disgrace the opposite 11 in the principle subject, who’re a mixed 3-for-25 on the native turf.
Arzak is one in all three within the Woodford subject exiting the Sept. 2 Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He completed third in that, behind Massive Invasion and Our Shot . The latter is also within the Woodford subject. Join BloodHorse Each day
Half of the dozen come to Lexington from Turf Dash (G2T) at Kentucky Downs, the place they did not make an excessive amount of of an impression. Axthelm completed third and Nobals , the reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash winner, obtained dwelling fourth in that. Charcoal was fifth, One Timer sixth, Gear Jockey seventh, and Coppola eighth.
Acquainted trainers are again within the Bluegrass with some acquainted sprinters.
Larry Rivelli, the long-time champion coach at Arlington Worldwide Racecourse, appears to be like to get Nobals again to the winner’s circle after back-to-back fourth-place finishes together with the Kentucky Downs effort. Rivelli additionally saddles One Timer, who completed second within the 2023 Kentucky Downs Turf Dash and was meant for the Breeders’ Cup earlier than encountering a coaching setback. He has completed second twice in his preparation for the Woodford.
Wesley Ward is represented by No Nay Hudson . The 4-year-old No Nay By no means gelding got here off a 10-month layoff to complete fifth in a Saratoga allowance warmth in July, then journeyed to Del Mar, the place he completed third, crushed lower than 1 size, within the Inexperienced Flash Handicap (G3T).
Rusty Arnold saddles Gear Jockey, a 7-year-old whole son of Twirling Sweet who received the 2023 Turf Dash earlier than ending eleventh of 12 within the Breeders’ Cup after a gradual begin.
As normal at Keeneland conferences, a number of of the entrants have been coaching exterior Kentucky. Amongst them are Rivelli’s pair, stabled at Hawthorne Race Course; Arzak, in from the East Coast; and Charcoal, from Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Xy Pace was a drive a bit down the category ladder at Gulfstream Park earlier in 2024 however involves the Woodford off a fourth-place end within the Choose Stakes at Monmouth Park. The 8-year-old First Samurai gelding appears to be like so as to add some pace to a race with out an overabundance of it however will launch from the skin gate.
Three also-eligibles embody Hedwig , a Godolphin homebred colt by Maclean’s Music who has three wins from six begins, all in turf sprints. He completed seventh in his most up-to-date race, the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs.
Entries: Woodford S. Introduced by FanDuel (G2T)Keeneland, Saturday, October 05, 2024, Race 6Grade IIT5 1/2fTurf $350,0003 yo’s & up3:40 PM (native)
