The final three days of racing this spring at Keeneland Race Course gets started with a bang. That’s right, the 8-race Wednesday card was made even stronger after no one was able to connect the dots on Sunday’s $1 Pick 6 sequence. That leaves over $54k in free money for horseplayers to go after over the last 6 races. But wait, there is more since Wednesday also marks the last chance at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet’s 2-Million Reward Points Hit & Split. Just connect the dots on the late Pick 4 after registering for the promotion and split the points with only our customers that took part in the wager. There is lots to get excited about to kick off closing week!!


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 3:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 4 Just an Opinion; 5 Commanded
Backups: 3 Don’t Say It

Forecast: There is a major lack of early speed signed on in this open $25k claimer over the main track, which makes things a bit tricker to decipher. #3 Don’t Say It is a figure horse coming in off a win against lesser at Turfway Park for the white-hot Brad Cox stable, but tough to trust given her lack early zip. I will make #4 Just an Opinion my lukewarm top pick given the addition of blinkers and Luis Saez. Both could lead to enough early speed to give the 5YO mare a tactical edge at a juicy price. #5 Commanded is more logical. The daughter of Lord Nelson has been competitive over the main track and gets some class relief.


Race 4:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 3 Warlander; 5 Operation Overlord
Backups: None

Forecast: The first-level allowance up next also kicks of the $3 All Turf Pick 3 and goes through #5 Operation Overlord. The Todd Pletcher conditioned colt has moved forward since adding the blinkers earlier this year in Florida. He ran extremely well in defeat last out when competing against the flow and now gets Irad Ortiz, Jr. back in the saddle. He will be tough to beat if the pace is not overly contentious, but there is a good deal on paper, so I will get sucked back into a horse that has taken a good deal of my money already. #3 Warlander has had lots of excuses throughout his career, but a lot of that could be on him. He gets back to the turf after spending the winter at Turfway Park and attracts Jose Ortiz. Hopefully, I finally see his “A” game.


Race 5:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 1 Editor
Backups: None

Forecast: The 5-2-ML favorite #1 Editor looks tough to beat in this $30k maiden claimer that kicks off the last chance at the aforementioned Hit & Split Late Pick 4 promotion. The lightly-raced son of Good Magic moved to the dirt last time after a debut over the grass and ran second to a next out Eddie Kenneally runner that is now 2 for 2. He drops in class and draws the rail, which should allow Irad Ortiz to get him to the front and never look back.


Race 6:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 4 Big Trouble
Backups: 2 Me Governor

Forecast: #8 Pandora’s Gift holds the class edge in this $140k allowance event at 5.5-furlongs over the grass and therefore was made the 8-5-ML favorite, but I prefer #4 Big Trouble. The Greg Foley trainee was entered in a stakes event earlier in the meet, but opts for this spot. She comes in off a pair of runner-up efforts at Fair Grounds, including one over the grass on February 27 in the Mardi Gras. She has been a little camera shy, but should be sitting on her best off a two-month freshening. #2 Me Governor is an interesting long shot alternative. The daughter of The Factor gets back to the grass in her second try off the bench. Hopefully, she can work out a favorable pocket voyage.


Race 7:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 6 Evanescence
Backups: 2 Roswell

Forecast: Three of the six runners entered in this third-level allowance exit the Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park where it was the 4-5-favorite R Disaster getting to the wire first. #3 Lynn’s Milky Way battled early and tired late in that race and was made the 9-5-ML choice by oddsmaker Nick Tammaro. She is capable obviously, but I prefer #6 Evanescence. The 4YO filly should be sitting on her best in the third start of her 4YO campaign after an awkward start but strong finish in the Matron at Oaklawn Park. With a better break, I like her chances to make it a perfect 2 for 2 over this surface. #2 Roswell was easily defeated in the aforementioned Hurricane Bertie, but showed life late in her first start off a 3-month break. The addition of blinkers has her finishing races stronger. She should provide solid value for those who include her in horizontals.


Race 8:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: #1 Astar; #4 Go for Rocket; #5 Master Sommelier; 7 Lahainaluna
Backups: None

Forecast: I am not in love with the ML favorites in the payoff leg for all horizontals, so I will use a few in hopes of catching a price, including top choice #1 Astar. The Oscar Performance colt returns to the races for the first time since last July and now appears in the Mike Maker barn. Maker adds blinkers and legs up Ben Curtis. Do not be surprised if this leads to a forward trip given the rail draw and Curtis’ ability to get longshots home in grass races. Astar has plenty of warts, but so does the entire field.