Keeneland's Elkhorn Stakes Announces Contenders and Odds for 4/23/22
| Post Position | Horse and Morning Line Odds |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bemma's Boy (5-1) |
| 2 | Sole Volante (20-1) |
| 3 | Two Emmys (7-2) |
| 4 | Phantom Currency (4-1) |
| 5 | Channel Maker (2-1) |
| 6 | Tiberius Mercurius (12-1) |
| 7 | Cullum Road (30-1) |
| 8 | Bama Breeze (12-1) |
| 9 | Another Mystery (6-1) |
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Two Emmys Seeks More Success in Elkhorn Stakes
Susan and Jim Hill’s Phantom Currency and Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson’s Two Emmys top a field of nine horses entered for the 37th running of the $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2) going 1 ½-miles at Keeneland on April 23.
Trained by Brian Lynch, Phantom Currency returned to the races after more than year layoff to post a wire-to-wire victory in the Appleton (G3) at Gulfstream Park on April 2. Prior to that, he won his only two starts of 2021 highlighted by a front-running score in the Mac Diarmida (G2).
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Phantom Currency and will break from post position four.
Two Emmys comes into Saturday’s race off a 2½-length wire-to-wire victory in the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 26. Winner of the Mr. D. (G1) last summer at Arlington, Two Emmys was caught at the wire here last fall in the Sycamore (G3) going the 1½-mile distance.
Trained by Mac Robertson, Two Emmys will be ridden by James Graham and break from post position three.
The Elkhorn will also mark the seasonal debut of Channel Maker, the champion turf male of 2020. The Bill Mott-trained gelding will be making his first start since running fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) last November and is seeking his first win since taking the 2020 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1).
Field of Eight Set for Ben Ali Stakes
Two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart, the multiple graded stakes-placed Proxy and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) runner-up Warrant headline a field of eight entered for Saturday’s 91st running of the Ben Ali (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.
Lawrence Cordes’ homebred Mighty Heart will be making his 2022 debut for trainer Josie Carroll. Winner of three stakes in 2021 and a four-time Sovereign Award winner, Mighty Heart has had six works since returning from a short layoff. His two most recent works were at Keeneland.
James Graham has the mount Saturday and will leave from post position two.
Godolphin’s homebred Proxy returned to the races following a 10½-month layoff with an allowance victory at Fair Grounds, which was followed by a runner-up effort to Olympiad in the New Orleans Classic (G2) on March 26.
Trained by Mike Stidham, Proxy chased the likes of Hot Rod Charlie, Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail before a fourth-place finish in the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) in his final start of 2021.
Brian Hernandez Jr., who has been aboard Proxy for his two starts this year, has the call Saturday and will break from post position three.
Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Warrant, beaten a head by Express Train in the Big Cap in his most recent start, closed his 2021 campaign with a victory in the Oklahoma Derby (G3). Trained by Brad Cox, Warrant will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post position five.
