(Raging Sea / Coady Photography)
From the Keeneland Media Team / Amy Owens:
RAGING SEA TOPS FIELD OF SEVEN ENTERED FOR BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE
Alpha Delta Stables’ Raging Sea heads a field of seven fillies and mares entered for next Friday’s 29th running of the $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Baird Doubledogdare will be the ninth race on the 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. ET post time. First post is 1 p.m.
Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Sea raced twice here in 2022, placing fourth in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) before running third in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Last year, she won a Keeneland allowance race in October then captured the Comely (G3) at Aqueduct in November.
Flavien Prat has the mount from post 1 in the Baird Doubledogdare.
Chief among Raging Sea’s opposition figures to be Juddmonte’s homebred Scylla. A full sister to $3.7 million earner Tacitus, Scylla has won two of three races and will be making her stakes debut in the Baird Doubledogdare. Trained by Bill Mott, Scylla will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 3.
The field for the Baird Doubledogdare is:
Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight |
1 | Raging Sea | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 118 |
2 | Queen of Missoula | Ben Colebrook | Luan Machado | 118 |
3 | Scylla | Bill Mott | Javier Castellano | 118 |
4 | Loved | Brendan Walsh | Tyler Gaffalione | 118 |
5 | Saddle Up Jessie | Brittany Russell | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 118 |
6 | Hidden Connection | Bret Calhoun | Rey Gutierrez | 118 |
7 | Curl Girl | Phil D’Amato | Luis Saez | 118 |
BROWN LOOKING TO EXTEND MASTERY OF JENNY WILEY
It is not as certain as taxes and the sun rising in the east, but trainer Chad Brown winning the Jenny Wiley (G1) in recent years has been almost a certainty.
Brown has won five of the past six runnings of the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares and has six Jenny Wiley victories overall. On Saturday, he has four of the race’s 10 entrants: Peter Brant’s Gina Romantica, Klaravich Stables’ Surge Capacity, Madaket Stables and Louis Lazzinnaro’s Beaute Cachee (FR) and Head of Plains Partners’ Fluffy Socks.
Three of Brown’s six Jenny Wiley winners made their season debuts in the race.
“With a lot of my good grass fillies, I like to target this and I like the mile and a sixteenth to start,” Brown said.
Only Fluffy Socks has run this year. She finished fourth in the 1 1/16-mile TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G2) at Gulfstream Park in January and was third in the 1 1/8-mile Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs in March.
“That was a little far for her,” Brown said about the Hillsborough.
The established star of Brown’s 2024 quartet is Gina Romantica, who could make a bit of Keeneland history with a victory in the Jenny Wiley.
Gina Romantica, the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Jenny Wiley, has won two turf stakes at Keeneland: the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana and the 2023 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare both during the Fall Meets.
A victory Saturday would make Gina Romantica the fourth horse to win three separate Grade 1 races at Keeneland and the first to do it without a Breeders’ Cup victory. The horses who have accomplished the feat are Tepin (First Lady, Breeders’ Cup Mile and Jenny Wiley), Essential Quality (Breeders’ Futurity, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Toyota Blue Grass) and Malathaat (Central Bank Ashland, Spinster and Breeders’ Cup Distaff).
“We know she loves Keeneland,” Brown said of Gina Romantica, who finished fourth beaten a length by males in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF at Santa Anita to conclude her 2023 campaign. “She ran super in defeat.”
Brown’s other three Jenny Wiley entrants closed 2023 with a 1-2-3 finish in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar on Dec. 3. Surge Capacity won the race by a head over Fluffy Socks with Beaute Cachee 1½ lengths back in third.
In her race before the Matriarch, Surge Capacity won Keeneland’s Bank of America Valley View (G3) on turf.
“I think all four of them have a good shot tomorrow,” Brown said about his Jenny Wiley quartet.
WAR LIKE GODDESS HEADLINES NOMINEES FOR CLOSING-DAY BEWITCH PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES
George Krikorian’s War Like Goddess, winner of the Bewitch (G3) the past three years, headlines a roster of 23 fillies and mares nominated to the 62nd running of the $300,000 race that will be contested over 1½ miles on the turf and be run Friday, April 26, closing day of the 16-day Spring Meet.
War Like Goddess is one of three horses to win the same Keeneland stakes three consecutive years. The others are Royal Harmony (the Fayette in 1969, 1970 and 1971) and Knight Counter (the Ben Ali in 1972, 1973 and 1974).
A three-time Grade 1 winner for trainer Bill Mott, War Like Goddess has 11 wins in 18 starts and earnings of $2,535,184 in four campaigns. She closed 2023 with a seventh-place finish against males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita in November.
Entries will be taken Friday, April 19.
PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES
Saturday, April 20 races. Entries taken Saturday, April 13.
$350,000 VisitLEX Elkhorn (G2) – Bold Act (IRE) (Charlie Appleby), Highland Chief (IRE) (Graham Motion), Silver Knott (GB) (Appleby), Wentru (Will Walden).
$300,000 Ben Ali (G3) – Archie the Giza (Robbie Medina), Dynamic One (Todd Pletcher), Happy American (Neil Pessin), Kingsbarns (Pletcher), War Campaign (Phil Sims).
SPRING MEET LEADERS
Through April 11 (5 days of 16-day season)
Jockey | Starts | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Purses |
Tyler Gaffalione | 33 | 8 | 4 | 4 | $1,456,477 |
Irad Ortiz Jr. | 27 | 6 | 6 | 5 | $1,122,760 |
Jose Ortiz | 27 | 6 | 5 | 4 | $728,783 |
Junior Alvarado | 15 | 4 | 3 | 2 | $539,346 |
Luis Saez | 22 | 3 | 0 | 3 | $523,556 |
Trainer | Starts | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Purses |
Wesley Ward | 15 | 5 | 2 | 2 | $366,630 |
Chad Brown | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $758,455 |
Bill Mott | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2 | $386,160 |
Kenny McPeek | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | $131,337 |
Owner | Wins |
Godolphin | 2 |
Red, White and Blue Racing (Randy Gullat) | 2 |
Rigney Racing (Richard Rigney) | 2 |
SECOND WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS
Year-round
Official Keeneland Tours. Click here for availability and to purchase.
Through Aug. 16
Keeneland Library is recognizing this year’s historic running of the Toyota Blue Grass at its free exhibit, A Rite of Spring: The 100th Running of the Blue Grass Stakes. The exhibit features photographs that capture race highlights curated from Keeneland Library collections and public submissions from professional and amateur photographers along with memorabilia from noted jockeys Bill Shoemaker, Mike Manganello and Chris Antley and celebrated runners Whirlaway, Riva Ridge, Spectacular Bid and Strike the Gold.
Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Library is located on the Keeneland campus. Enter Keeneland at Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.
Click here for the virtual companion to the exhibit.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
The Hill. Keeneland’s popular tailgating area is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the Spring Meet, weather permitting. NOTE: Due to rain accumulation this week, operations on The Hill are suspended on Friday, April 12.
No ticket or reservation is required for The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o’ War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland).
Fans on The Hill can watch the racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered.
For fans who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland again is partnering with RevelXP to offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. RevelXP will organize tailgates by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more. Visit Keeneland.com/tailgating for full details.
The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the last race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contents
The Keeneland Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 30 minutes following the final race. Milliners Corner, Wagering Central and Finish Line locations also are open on race days.
Friday, April 12
Spring Handicapping Challenge. Available only at the track, the Spring Handicapping Challenge offers one berth to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) in November at Del Mar and as many as four spots to the 2025 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas. Players will wager a live bankroll of $250 on Keeneland races. Click here for more information.
Saturday, April 13
Sunrise Trackside. This free Saturday morning program from 8-10 a.m. is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Fans can enjoy coffee and donuts at the Starting Gate concession stand while watchinghorses train. Children’s activities on the first floor of the Grandstand will include a visit with Keeneland mascot Buckles, face painting and games. Mini tours will be available at the Welcome Stand near the Paddock.
Every Saturday, the John Deere Tractor Break will take place during the renovation period on the main track from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and include a drawing for a kid’s tractor from John Deere/Meade Tractor. Meet a horse from the Life Adventure Center of Versailles, Kentucky, in the Walking Ring from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Grade 1 Gamble. The signature handicapping contest of the Spring Meet is the Grade 1 Gamble, which Keeneland is hosting in cooperation with XpressBet, NYRABets, 4NJ Bets, HPI and TVG on the day of the Jenny Wiley (G1), Stonestreet Lexington (G3) and Giant’s Causeway (G3). Entry fee is $3,500 with $2,500 going to a live bankroll and $1,000 to the prize fund. Contestants may play at Keeneland or on one of the aforementioned ADW platforms. Prizes include an estimated $75,000 for first place (based on 300 entries), as many as six berths in the BCBC and 10 spots in the NHC. Click here to register and for more information.
Sunday, April 14
Heroes Day. Event honors members of the military (active duty and veterans), first responders, health care workers and their families. Heroes and their families will receive free general admission, reserved Grandstand seating and a complimentary meal at the North Terrace provided by Marriott Griffin Gate. The day will have special programming on the track, including a flag rollout by the Henry Clay High School Junior ROTC and the singing of “God Bless America” by Dr. Everett McCorvey, and honoree recognitions in the Winner’s Circle.
A POW-MIA Chair of Honor will be displayed near the Paddock to bring awareness to past and current POW-MIA military members through a partnership with The Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5.
Each hero is eligible to receive up to six complimentary tickets. Visit for more information and to reserve complimentary tickets.
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