4/2/21

BONUS KEENELAND COVERAGE

 2  KEE      Transylvania Stakes (GIII)

     $150.000        3yo           1 1/16m Turf      120lbs +penalties

One of my favorite races as it was the first stakes race I ever saw live at KEE… back in  the days of no track announcer, yeah it was a few years ago.  It was a rainy weekend, I was there with my old pal Willie (for which the Green Card is named after as I still use his speed number handicapping system for those picks) – yeah, I have some fond memories of this race.  The race?  The Transylvania Stakes (GIII) for the sophomore sod specialists.  We get a full and good looking field for this one and Found Peace is one that looks ready to pounce.  He won last out, taking the Palm Beach and is a horse that just missed on BC Day, add in coming from Mb Stables and there is every reason to believe he can win here.  People Pleaser is another that was on-the-board on BC Day and just missed last out at SA on the grass.  This is a tough spot but I think he makes a tough one-two punch for the big barn.  We have a couple of horses coming into this one with multiple win-streaks on the line and Stylishly Ugly is one of those…and there’s nothing ugly about this one’s form.  He won the TX Turf Mile last out and certainly could keep that win streak going here.

It’s a deep, deep, deep field… so I’ll hearken back to my old soggy weekend from long long ago and look for a fantastic race here today.

Here’s the Field –

Only a single win from this one but he’s been on the board  in a few graded races.  Closed to be third in the Battaglia at TP last out.  Switches over to the grass for the first time and put up a couple of solid turf works lately.  Can he show a fondness for the green stuff?  His mom was a turf specialist so maybe.

Had a four race win streak snapped when last of eleven in the Lecomte (GIII) at FG last out.  All of his wins have come on the grass, so coming back to the green stuff could be just the ticket for a big win today. 

Has been solid in his give turf efforts including a third n the BC Juv Turf Sprint (GII).  Needs to get back on the winning side of things, but with three victories and coming from the big barn, he’s certainly capable of just that. 

Lightly raced, only his fifth start, but he broke maiden and then won the Pasadena at SA in his most recent.  Loves the grass, loves to win and certainly seems like a horse that will improve and could get the job done in this field.  Give him a serious look.

Only a single win from this one, and he has a pair of runner-up starts, including a placing last out in the Columbia at TAM on the soggy sod.  They believe in this one and keep giving him a shot, so maybe it’s time for him to wake up and bring a big game.

Three wins from nine starts yet his best race may have been a second in the BC Juv Turf Sprint (GII) where he closed quickly on that afternoon.  Nice win last out vs. stakes company at GP… he may be the one to get past.

Only five starts from this one and he’s won three of them so you know he can flat out haul the mail.  Fourth last out on the down-hill at SA vs. stakes horses and was seventh vs the big horses… still this is a spot that I think he can be right in the middle of things. 

Only four starts and a single win but he just missed last out vs. stakes company… and I do mean just missed.  Three of those starts were on the grass and it seems to be his best footing.  Can he keep it going here and make a splash?

He’s won two of his last three starts getting the maiden win at TUP, then winning the Columbia at TAM last out, both wins on the grass.  He was third between those victories vs NY-bred Alw horses, so he has a fondness for the green stuff and certainly has room to grow. 

Four wins and a placing from six starts and he comes into this one with those four wins in a row… all on the grass.  Even his only off-the-board race was a fourth beaten a length so you have to think this one has the ability to be any type. 

Three wins in a row for this one including the TX Turf Mile last out where he went wire-to-wire.  He can certainly get the job done against any field so give him a huge look in this one as well.  He is solid. 

                Early Scratch

Three wins in ten starts and has been in for a tag in his last few races.  Won at CT on the dirt and last out taking down high-end claimers at SA on the grass.  He certainly has some ability but this is a deeper/tougher group so he will need his best.

Only three starts and has two wins, both on the turf so this is certainly a footing that he feels comfortable with.  Beat FLA-bred Alw horses in his most recent but he will need help to draw into the field.

COZMAN   6 / 3 / 11          Willie’s Green Card     6 / 11 / 8     

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES