Elkhorn – (Grade ll)

Purse $400.00 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

1 1/2 Miles – Turf

Keeneland – April 18, 2026

This could be an early preview of the Breeders Cup Turf later this October as the 22nd running of the Elkhorn draws some of the top marathon grass runners in the game. This field brings a combined 18 graded stakes victories, making this a particularly strong renewal. With poor weather in the forecast, late scratches are possible while favoring runners proven over an off-track. Nakamura Stables, TwinTowersRacing, Diablo Diablo, and Mb Stables are all seeking a second win in the Elkhorn, which would move them into a tie atop the owner standings with Maxmillion Farm and Maverick Racing. Bronze Sabre, the 2009–2010 HRP Turf Male of the Year, still holds the stakes record from 2012, stopping the clock in 2:23.48—a time that remains the track record for 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Keeneland. It’s going to be an interesting race, so let’s take a deep dive into this year’s contenders!

1. Neon Lightning – (Nakamura Stables, I. Castillo) This is going to be his first time going a marathon distance after a string of respectable graded stakes efforts. After breaking his maiden by four lengths on the dirt in 2024, connections decided to geld Neon Lightning and enter him on the grass. This proved to be a good move after upsetting The Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs, adding $1,200.00 to his career earnings. This gelding ended his 2025 campaign with a one-length victory in the Grade One Hollywood Derby, taking the field wire-to-wire. Now with two solid starts as a four-year-old, it makes sense to see what he can do with more ground. However, there are other horses in here who look more attractive.

2. Edged Out – (TwinTowersRacing, T. Gaffalione) The only colt in this field and a habitual deep closer. Edged Out typically settles at the back early before producing a strong late rally. He was on the derby trail last year but failed to accumulate enough points to make the starting gate. Connections made the switch in surfaces late last year, and he hit the board in three straight graded stakes. His four-year-old campaign hasn’t been too impressive, with a sixth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf and seventh in the Diarmida at Gulfstream Park. Edged Out didn’t make an impact on soft turf last time out, and with inclement weather in the forecast, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll handle the conditions this time around.

3. Acapulco Vision – (Lanfranco Stable, A. Jimenez) Claimed for just $4.00 in November of last year and is seeking his first graded stakes win. This son of Acapulco Bay has done it all, and his most recent win came at the 1 3/8 mile distance against allowance company. Lanfranco Stable then stepped him up and tried running in the Carousel Handicap and finished fourth after contesting the pace early. Now entering in a Grade Two is definitely a big step up in class again, and Acapulco Vision doesn’t have a good record on an off-track, which could be a problem. There’s no doubt he’s been a productive claim, but it’s going to be hard to turn the tables against proven stakes winners.

4. Chagrin Falls – (Mo Mentum Farm, B. Curtis) Three-time Grade One winner with over $5,000.00 in purse earnings. Though he drew the rail in his last two starts, Chagrin Falls is coming off back-to-back wins in the Breeders Cup Turf and the Pegasus World Cup Turf. In fact, his last four victories have come at marathon distances, so this entry makes a ton of sense. He showed some versatility last year, taking the Charlie Whittingham Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion against a salty field. Even at eight-years-old, there’s no doubt this gelding is in his best form as he looks to extend an impressive win streak. It’s also worth mentioning that this will be his first time running on soft ground, if he doesn’t scratch. My top pick.

5. Kegger – (Ajm Stables, J. Lezcano) One of many in this field who is hoping for some fast fractions upfront. Kegger has been unlucky in his last two starts, settling eight lengths off the pace and weaving through traffic in the stretch. He won the Jerkens Handicap last December after getting a clear lane to run at the 3/8 pole. We last saw him at Santa Anita in the San Luis Rey Stakes, where it wasn’t an ideal trip. At the quarter pole, Kegger was staring at a wall of horses in front of him and didn’t start making up ground until the final furlong. He also had the same trip two back in the McKnight Stakes. This is another horse who has never hit the board on soft turf, and if it rains on Saturday, he will be scratched.

6. State Cavier – (Diablo Diablo, F. Pennington) This son of State Police has been pretty consistent since switching barns in 2025 but is a little camera-shy. His last five starts include four seconds and a fourth-place finish. State Cavier likes to sit just off, if not, on the pace and try to spurt away down the lane. However, in the Hollywood Turf Cup and Pattison Canadian International, he didn’t show much fight in the stretch and failed to make up ground. His best placing at the 1 1/2 mile distance was third last year at Kentucky Downs, where jockey Frankie Pennington tried taking this gelding wire-to-wire. The losing margin was only a half a length, so I would expect the same tactics here, especially if it’s on soft ground.

7. Tech App – (The Sidley Stud, S X. Bridgmohan) Another deep closer who has never been off the board in five off-track starts. This is a very interesting horse who could be peaking at the right time with rising speed figures and is coming off an impressive win in the McKnight Stakes. Tech App was six-lengths back at the top of the stretch and flew home to win by a nose, earning the highest speed figure of his career. This West Virginia-Bred’s first stakes win was at Churchill Downs last year going 1 3/8 miles on the grass. The turf was yielding, and he stayed a lot closer to the pace. Connections are definitely hoping for some moisture in the ground on Saturday, and if there is, Tech App will be a major contender.

8. Great Vault – (Winning Link Stables, A. Fresu) Winner of the Grade One Sword Dancer at Saratoga last year and stamped his ticket to the Breeders Cup Turf. He just missed in the BC Turf, losing by a neck to Chagrin Falls, and put up a 102 SRF figure. I have to give all the credit to Winning Link Stables for turning this free track horse into a Grade One winner in less than a year. In 2026, Great Vault failed to fire in the Pegasus World Cup Turf and ran fourth at Santa Anita. His running lines are a bit spotty, with good efforts coming every other race. It’s tough to judge what he’ll do on soft ground, due to running second and tenth last year. The distance isn’t a question; it’s just that other runners in this field are more attractive.

9. Whipped – (The Sidley Stud, G. Corrales) This Ontario-bred is exiting a one-length victory in The Diarmida at Gulfstream. It was on soft turf, and he settled nine-lengths off the pace and closed like a freight train down the stretch. Before that win, his best effort came in the John Henry Turf Championship at 1 ¼ miles, winning by one length as well. One thing to note is that his performances at the 1 ½ mile distance have been below average. Also, this gelding is nearly undefeated on off tracks, which is going to be extremely helpful if there is rain. Not sure if the distance is going to be too far for Whipped, but with other horses in the field who are specialists at this distance, he will need to put together a strong effort.

10. King Z – (Mb Stables, E J. Zayas) Claimed for $16.00 in November 2023 and has won five graded stakes since. King Z won The McKnight at Gulfstream Park back-to-back years in 2024-2025. He has a Grade One win on his résumé in the Pattison Canadian International and put up a 103 SRF figure. Also, some moisture in the grass shouldn’t be a problem for King Z as he made every pole a winning one in the Belmont Gold Cup last year on a “good” turf course. This is another horse who seems to perform his best when on or near the lead, and I don’t expect any different here. Mb Stables could have this gelding ready to fire, so a big performance wouldn’t come as a surprise.

11. Hail Justice – (Team 7 Illusions, A. Bocachica) Only discovered the marathon distances three months ago and just ran second in the Grade Two Diarmida. He set a strong pace early and was in front by two lengths. Hail Justice didn’t give up the lead without a fight and finished second by a length. In his prior race, connections took a shot at Parx and stretched him out to 1 ½ miles. It was a huge success as he settled midpack and took over in the stretch to win comfortably. Oh, I forgot to mention that those two races were over soft ground! This son of Cherokee Devil is going to be a major contender here as he is getting better and better and has experience on an off-track.

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES