‘Style Points May Count for a Lot at Keeneland

Sense Of Style, considered by some to be the best 2-year-old filly in the country, will make her first start around two turns in today’s $400,000 Alcibiades at Keeneland.

The daughter of Thunder Gulch will be favored against 10 foes in the Grade II at 1 1/16 miles. The Alcibiades is one of two graded stakes -- along with the $250,000 Phoenix Breeders’ Cup at six furlongs -- on the opening-day card.

Purchased for $800,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale, Sense Of Style won by 2 1/4 lengths in her debut Aug. 1 at Saratoga, won the Spinaway by nearly seven lengths less than three weeks later, then stretched out to a mile and won the Matron, a Grade I, by a length Sept. 19 at Belmont Park.

Breaking from Post 5, Sense Of Style will be ridden by Edgar Prado.

Two races earlier, Prado will ride Deer Lake in the Phoenix, in a field headed by Champali and Clock Stopper.

Race of the day: Beaucette, who has won two of four on the main track elsewhere for trainer Neil Drysdale, will try for her first win at Santa Anita in today’s seventh, a $48,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $72,907. Javier Santiago will ride Beaucette.

One for the road: Royal Moment makes his Keeneland debut for trainer Steve Asmussen in today’s fifth. Prado will ride the 2-year-old Two Punch colt in the $52,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using The Griff and Sweet Stepper in the first, Radon and Reatta Pass in the second, Jammin JJ in the third, Veiled Speed in the fourth, Etch, Memogram and Future Thought in the fifth, Gold Way West in the sixth, Saintly Persuasion and Lady Thatcher in the seventh and Excessive Hayate in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/25. Money: Previous day/meet total: $15.40/$144.50. Total money bet: $120.