Running Free Has At Least One Advantage Over Competition
Seven horses are scheduled to run today in the seventh race, a $51,000 optional claimer, at Santa Anita, but only one, Running Free, has won on the turf course.
A 5-year-old Soft Gold gelding owned by breeder Southern Nevada Racing Stables and trained by Kristin Mulhall, Running Free has one victory in nine starts on the grass.
Idle since finishing last in the Thunder Road Handicap on Feb. 8, Running Free will be ridden in the one-mile race by Tyler Baze.
His opponents include Set Alight, a 3-year-old Hennessy colt owned by breeder Juddmonte Farms and one of two horses in the race trained by Bobby Frankel.
Set Alight has not raced since running poorly in his dirt debut in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last Oct. 29 at Belmont Park. Before that, he had won three of six on turf in France. He will race with Lasix for the first time.
Frankel’s other entry is New Export, a 4-year-old Exile King horse winless in four starts in the U.S. after having won two of eight in his native Brazil. Corey Nakatani will ride.
Race of the day: Grande Melody will be in the seventh race at Keeneland, her first start since finishing ninth in the French Oaks on June 11. Julien Leparoux will ride the 3-year-old Grand Lodge filly in the $52,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
One for the road: Turf horses switching to the Polytrack have been running well at Keeneland, so let’s take Final Refrain in the sixth. Second despite drifting out badly in her debut at Saratoga on Aug. 23, the 2-year-old Lion Cavern filly will be ridden by Corey Lanerie in the $50,000 maiden contest at about seven furlongs.
Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Spriggzee and Good Gold in the first, Street Lights in the second, Unbridled Harmony in the third, Zann and Steal Your Thunder in the fourth, Delivering Speed in the fifth, Celestial Being and Bettersweetmoment in the sixth, New Export and Set Alight in the seventh, and Skin Flint and Winewomenandsong in the eighth.
Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/40. Money: (previous day/meet total): $14.40/$218.80. Total money bet: $192.
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