It is the final Saturday of the spring at Keeneland and in addition to a solid 11-race card with a pair of graded stakes, we have an $82,328 carryover in the Pick 6. Remember, Keeneland has a $1 minimum denomination in what looks like a pretty playable sequence for all sized budgets.


Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.


Race 6:
Grade: C=
Main Ticket: 1 How’s Ur Attitude; 3 Honky Tonk Highway
Backups: None

Forecast: An open $62,500 claimer at 6.5-furlongs over the main track where there is not much speed signed on kicks things off. I will hope to get out with the two that I expect to be prominent early.

#1 How’s Ur Attitude was ridden aggressively from the rail the last time he competed over dirt. He tired badly in that November ’24 race in Louisville, but has performed much better in previous tries over the main track. He has a big shot to take them gate-to-wire. If not, #3 Honky Tonk Highway should be sitting just off the pace to his outside. He moves back to the dirt and drops in for a tag for the first time for Bret Calhoun.



Race 7:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 3 Cloudwalker; 7 Pipsy
Backups: 4 Bandonarun

Forecast: The first of 3 turf races within the sequence is a 5.5-furlong dash for allowance foes where the 7-2-morning line favorite #4 Bandonarun makes sense after three efforts in Florida this winter for Christophe Clement. He chased the lone speed winner before tiring late last month and should get a favorable voyage here. That said, I prefer a pair of runners that should offer a bit better value.

#3 Cloudwalker is my top choice. Trainer Brendan Walsh continues to win races at a high clip in April and this filly has already shown an affinity for this course with 2 wins in 3 starts. She shook off the rust last out in a stake at Turfway Park and should be ready for her best in this spot. #7 Pipsy has not raced since running better than looks in the Franklin (G2) last October. She has run very well in her other two one-turn races and gets Lasix for the first time.


Race 8:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 5 Just a Touch
Backups: None

Forecast: I wish I could make a case against the likeliest single in the sequence #5 Just a Touch, but he looks very tough to beat. Not only is he the fastest horse, but he should have no issue controlling the early tempo with little pressure from his rivals. My last year’s Derby pick finally finished that race and appears poised to start off his 2025 campaign a perfect 2 for 2 for Brad Cox.



Race 9: Elkhorn (G2)
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 1 Rebel Red
Backups: None

Forecast: On the other hand, I am willing to take a stand against the 8-5-morning line favorite #6 Limited Liabiltiy in this Grade 2 event at 1-1/2 miles over the lawn. The Kitten’s Joy gelding is capable, but his lone victory over the last two years was in a 2 1/16-mile race where he was loose on the lead over the unique configuration at Kentucky Downs. I expect him to hit the board, but for at least one to be better.

Hopefully it is #1 Rebel Red. It has not been a good meet at all for trainer Cherie DeVaux, but I like this son of Frankel stretching back out after competing at Fair Grounds in the Muniz Memorial (G2) in an obvious prep. Jockey Jose Ortiz should be able to save ground throughout in a favorable mid-pack spot, which hopefully allows him to out finish this bunch.




Race 10: Ben Ali (G3)
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 3 Tennessee Lamb; 1 San Siro
Backups: 5 Piroli; 6 Duke of Love

Forecast: The second stake of the afternoon is over the main track at 1 3/16-miles where I like a price most in #3 Tennessee Lamb. The Tonalist colt needs to handle the increase in competition, but meets a field of runners that do not out class him by all that much. The 4YO has proven he is clearly a dirt horse at this point and should get a great trip just off the early pace. #1 San Siro is also a must use. The Brendan Walsh barn is tough to leave off tickets right now and this gelding chased a lone speed winner in a better field at Fair Grounds last month. A big effort should be expected.



Race 11:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 8 Then; 7 Rothschild
Backups: None

Forecast: I will look to close things out two-deep in this first-level allowance event at two-turns on the grass. #8 Then has run two big races since returning off the layoff. A repeat of his last in Florida makes him tough to beat. #7 Rothschild is just 1 for 10, but ran better than looks in his first start off the layoff. The winner in that March 1 start at Gulfstream Park rode a good rail throughout, while this Uncle Mo colt did not have things as good. John Velazquez picks up the mount with Luis Saez in Arkansas.