HORSE RACING

​Keeneland Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 4/9/22

Starting at 12:30 p.m. EST, we have 11 races at Keeneland. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets on FanDuel Racing.

As always, check the program for racing information and scratches and changes. Also, watch 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).

Lady Rocket and Bell’s the One, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 7/2
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Race 7 is the $500,000, Grade 1 Madison Stakes for older fillies and mares racing 7 furlongs. The numberFire algorithm and Guaranteed Tip Sheet project a win by Lady Rocket (5/2) with Bell’s the One (7/2) a close challenger.

Lady Rocket has 3 wins in 4 starts at the distance. Bell’s The One is justhttps://racing.fanduel.com/racetracks/KEE/keeneland?race=9 a half length from winning five in a row.

Gear Jockey and Golden Pal, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1 and 4/5
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Race 8 is the $350,000, Grade 2 Shakertown Sprint at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf. The heavy favorite Golden Pal (4/5) breaks from the outside with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding. Golden Pal is the top pick according to numberFire’s data followed by Gear Jockey (10/1) Barraza (4/1) in the 11 horse field.

Golden Pal has won 5-of-7 at the distance. Gear Jockey missed the money in his 2022 debut, and in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. But he won three times last year including his only start at Keeneland, and has a pair of strong bullet works recently.

Smile Happy and Volcanic, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5 and 20/1
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Race 9 is the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles. This is a major Kentucky Derby prep race, and the favorite Smile Happy (9/5) is the projected runner-up with Rattle N Roll (8/1) the top pick according to numberFire data.

Smile Happy has won won 2-of-3 starts and finished second off a layoff as the favorite in the 1 1/8 mile Risen Star Stakes behind an expected Kentucky Derby leading favorite Epicenter. Top pick of Guaranteed Tip Sheet.

Rattle N Roll won his only start at Keeneland and will be coming from off the pace.

Zandon was a hard charging third place finisher in the Risen Star after a poor start and racing wide. Emmanuel (9/2) won a pair of races easily but an awkward trip in the Fountain of Youth set him back, and a improved effort is expected, according to Guaranteed Tip Sheet.

Top value horse to include in exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering is Volcanic, who according to FanDuel Racing showed improved speed and balance when finishing third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February at half the price. Volcanic is very capable of hitting the board and outrunning his 20/1 odds.