The Keeneland Spring Meet is in full gear now as we approach the second Saturday of the meeting. The card is not quite as strong as last weekend’s stakes-laden Blue Grass card, but it has a pair of graded stakes events (G3 Lexington, G1 Jenny Wiley) and still offers plenty of great wagering opportunities throughout. Here are a few horses I plan to build my day around tomorrow in Kentucky.

Race 5:
I am not in love with the chances of 5-2-ML favorite #3 Comprehensive in this MSW for 3YOs at two-turns over the turf. The Hard Spun colt had four chances this winter for trainer Brian Lynch at Gulfstream Park and was unable to get home in any of them. My biggest issue with that is Lynch was white-hot most of the Championship Meet in Hallandale Beach and now this colt ships north to take on one of the stronger fields he has encountered. He is almost certain to be an underlay. I will try to beat him with #6 Minotaur. The Raging Bull gelding has lacked early speed in both starts, including last out on March 1 when he went off the 5-2-public choice. He failed to make a serious impression late that afternoon in Florida, but that is because he lost all momentum when attempting to put his run in before they reached the far turn. He now makes his second start off the bench and should have a big shot to run this group down with a cleaner voyage under jockey Joel Rosario.

Play: #6 Minotaur (4-1 ML)


Race 8:
My top play of the day comes in this 7-furlong MSW event for 3YO fillies over the main track where I have been waiting for the return of #12 Al Ghadeer. The Gun Runner filly took noticeable public support for a barn that is not known for winning with first-time starters in her debut at Churchill Downs in late November ’25. The Andrew McKeever trainee broke from the inside that afternoon in Louisville in an 11-horse field and held her own finishing third beaten less than a length. McKeever opted to give her the winter off and point her to the spring where she gets a rider upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione and moves to a more favorable outside draw. Al Ghadeer has talent and upside. Hopefully she illustrates that in her 3YO debut.

Play: #12 Al Ghadeer (8-1 ML)


Race 10: Lexington (G3)
The last chance at our ongoing “Triple Crown Prep Races Money Back Special” offer is tomorrow when they go to post for the Lexington (G3). The final crack at earning points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard is not a factor this year in a race where trainer Brad Cox holds a strong hand. Cox sends out 2-1-ML favorite #9 Exum and 7-2-second choice #10 Confessional with a chance to continue his hot start to the meet. Exum failed to fire on debut in Florida, but dominated a field of maidens on the Virginia Derby undercard at Colonial Downs. He has the upside to crush this field, but did not beat much. Confessional is more battle tested, but has yet to get back to the winner’s circle since his debut win over this racetrack in August. I prefer him as a wager because he should offer more value and is likely to get a favorable setup, but this is a race where I am willing to take a far bigger swing.

#3 Decisive Win ships east from Southern California off of one start where he finished fourth for trainer Doug O’Neill. On the surface, he is up against it in this spot, but his speed and fade in the strongest MSW race of the winter at Santa Anita for 3YOs is better than it looks. Not only did he battle early before yielding late, but he took a ton of action in a live group going off at 3-1. The winner of that maiden race Crude Velocity came back and won impressively for Bob Baffert in March and this colt clearly has upside. At his likely off-odds, he is worth a gamble, especially with the Money Back Offer insurance. Antonio Fresu will make the trip to Keeneland and be aboard.

Play: #3 Decisive Win (15-1 ML)