Keeneland Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 4/15/21
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 1:05 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Keeneland. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.
As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and monitor the weather and track conditions.
(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions.)
Bugler and Plutonium, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 12/1 and 6/1
Race 6 is a Maiden Claimer with 8 runners going 1 1/16 miles. The top pick for numberFire’s data is Bugler (12/1), who can pay off well as an upset pick. Bugler is making his career debut as a three-year-old for little known trainer Dane Kobiskie.
Abdan (4/1) drops in class and tries to hit the board for the first time in three starts. Knopfler (4/1) is another three-year-old with just three starts and had an improved 87 speed figure when finishing fourth last race. French Toast (9/2) has Johnny V riding for EPO trainer Mike Maker. He makes his second career start as a four-year-old and is coming off a three-month layoff, with some lingering questions about his health.
Plutonium (6/1) has shown an improved speed rating and is stringing races together. We should expect an improved effort against a weak group.
Mischiefful, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1
Race 8 is an Allowance race for three-year-old fillies sprinting 6 furlongs. The top pick by numberFire’s algorithm is Inject (3/1) with Mischiefful (3/1) a top challenger.
Inject is a best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet, and she has finished in the money in both her starts this year. including runner-up last race on a deeper track when she got caught wide. Leading jockey Luis Saez rides for EPO trainer Brad Cox, and she should be included in exacta and trifecta bets as well as horizontal wagers.
Mischiefful has a win and runner-up finish in two starts and hit a 97 speed figure last race on a harder, faster Gulfstream track. She can go wire-to-wire again.
Coastana, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5
Race 9 is a Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares going a 1 1/8-mile route on the turf. The numberFire data projects favorite Coastana (9/5) to win, and FanDuel Racing odds suggest a 40% implied win probability. She finished second with an improved speed rating to 83 when losing by a nose going this same distance at Gulfstream.
Ballymore Star (6/1) and Maid Of Honor (6/1) can hit the board, according to numberFire. Ballymore Star finished second last race following a long layoff and will have a change of jockey to Corey Lanerie. Flippant (9/2) gets top stretch rider Joel Rosario for the first time after finishing second last month with slower speed figures.
