Thoughts on: Keeneland – Race 1 – Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Eleven two-year-old fillies have passed through the entry box and will compete over four and a half furlongs on the dirt. Wesley Ward and John Ennis each have two gals entered. No babies from First-Crop sires are entered today.
#1 Vibora (3/1) – Not surprisingly, the morning line favorite comes from the Ward barn. Wes also bred this filly from Hootenanny (4/11, 36.4%), and she is out of a Ghostzapper mare that was 3 for 10 on the track ($76,000 in earnings) with four other foals of racing age, three of them are unraced. Her work tab includes four three furlong spins here at Keeneland, with her best probably coming on 4/1/25 when she breezed in 36.4 from the gate (2/10). Note: This filly is also entered in Race 1 at KEE on Friday, so I would not be surprised if she scratches out of this event today.
#2 Evolution (9/2) – This filly is a homebred from Arindel (Alan Cohen) that comes by way of a Brethern (14.3%) / Maimonides cross. Her mom was as a 2YO in her 4th start and produced three other foals of racing age (all full siblings to this gal), two that won as juveniles. Carlos David has put her to work on four mornings, none at KEE. The reinsman will be Irad Ortiz, Jr.
#3 Nanzig (20/1) – John Ennis saddles this homebred filly, who is by Maclean’s Music (13.5%). Mom, by Grand Slam, won only once from nine starts and has foaled ten other babies of racing age. Today’s runner has been working over at The Training Center here in Lexington, and she was nifty – 35.8 seconds from the gate (5/47).
#4 Frosty Mojito (30/1) – This young lady is by Frosted (14.4%) and she sold for $67,000 as a yearling after hammering for $25,000 as a short yearling. Her mama won at first, asking in June of her 2YO season at Hastings. She has two other foals of racing age. Trainer Paul McEntee has put four works into her with her last three coming over the Keeneland strip. Last out, she traveled three panels in 36.2 seconds (7/42).
#5 Satisfied Mind (7/2) – This is the second filly that ‘The Maestro’, Wes Ward, will saddle in this event. She is by First Samurai (14.1%) and was thrown by a Quality Road mare that was 0/2 on the track and has tossed three other foals of racing age. Hat Creek Racing plunked down $25,000 to secure this gal as a yearling (2/6). She has drilled three times, with her most recent two over the Keeneland oval. Last out, she zipped three panels in 34.8 seconds from the gate (3/10). Two back, she looked superb when the rider didn’t seem to push her at all and she easily covered three poles from the gate in 37.2 seconds (4/10) – she galloped out beautifully. Joel Rosario has been tapped to pilot.
#9 Daring Move (6/1) – Daredevil (5.3%) is this filly’s dad, and his mom is by A.P. Indy. Her dam was 3 for 8 while a racemare and has authored three other foals of racing age, one that won first out as a baby. Today’s starter is another homebred, and she’s trained by John A. Hancock. Four works, the last three over a half mile at Keeneland, amounts to her prep work. Her times have been solid. It’s worth noting that she’ll get the services of Flavien Prat.
#10 Purely Zen (12/1) – Christopher Davis conditions this filly, who comes from Second-Year sire, Authentic (8.5%). Mama scored once from seven tries while a racer and banked $35,000. She has one other foal of racing age – a 3YO. The hammer fell on this starter earlier this year for $75,000. She’s completed her four workouts on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park, with her last two covering four poles. Her penultimate effort was done in a swift 47.4 seconds from the gate (2/40). Luis Saez rides.
My Pick – I know, I know, I typically do not pick Ward horses. But this #5 filly, Satisfied Mind, looks extremely tough, and I’m going to make an exception - she’s my pick. That breeze that she put in two back was ultra impressive and I’m going to go with her.
Keeneland will host another Two-Year-Old Maiden Special Weight race on Friday, so check back to benefit from the homework that I’ll be doing. Have fun with this one and good luck!