Keeneland

My Dear Racing Friend,

The first weekend at Keeneland is in the books—and what a weekend it was. A tapestry woven with close calls and fat prices, near misses and absolute daggers. It had all the flair of a sting operation gone just right... or perhaps just wrong enough to make it memorable.

We struck five times—prices like buried treasure: $14.50, $11.30, $22.80, $38.60... and, of course, Raiding Party at $28.84 on opening Friday in the last. A hell of a way to open the meet, wouldn't you say? Not redboarding, no—just reality, as cold and refreshing as a Kentucky morning. The value was there for anyone sharp enough to look past the fog of public money. Our horses ran well, with better luck we are hitting opening at 40%.

Spendthrift had their fingerprints all over the crime scene—dominating Friday and Saturday like a syndicate that’s been planning its move for months. Godolphin, Juddmonte—these aren't just names, they're signals, breadcrumbs for those paying attention. Keeneland isn’t just a racetrack—it’s a meeting place for dynasties.

And then there’s the morning buzz... electrified. Worktabs stretching out like rap sheets. Young trainers, old legends, a melting pot of horsemen, all converging on Lexington for the same reason—the action. But here's the trick: the meat and potatoes of this meet lie not on Saturdays in the spotlight, but in the weekday shadows, where the bright lights don’t shine as brightly, but the payouts can still be glorious.

At Keeneland, I don't handicap like it's Saratoga or Del Mar. No sir. I hunt. I follow the bloodlines, the sales rings, the connections. West Point, McPeek, Winstar—these names don’t just appear. They point for this meet. It's a homecoming for the sales crowd, a proving ground for the young, and an old stomping ground for those still with something to prove.

You must understand—connections are everything here. Horses don’t just win; they’re placed to win. And Wesley Ward? God bless him. Brilliant mind, dangerous man. He broke our hearts this weekend when Nakatomi stormed past our Durante in the Phoenix—17-1, a dagger in the gut—but the kind you respect. That’s racing. That’s Keeneland.

And I promise you, there are more just like that coming—perhaps as soon as Wednesday.

Here’s another nugget for you—Pletcher. Todd’s shipping them in from Belmont and Saratoga like a general moving troops to the front lines. And they’re not just showing up. They’re firing. Johnny V is throwing flames in the irons. It’s all there if you're watching. Horses stepping off the van and lighting the place up. Why? No one knows exactly. Maybe it’s the air. Maybe it’s the hay. Maybe it’s just belief.

This is not the same as "What happened at Toga, stays at Toga" as we refer to big performances, like It's Our Time, talked and bet like the heir apparent to Secretariat and failed miserably at a ridiculous low price, a few other Saratoga 'monsters', even the Tommy Jo got the win via DQ but ran like a shadow of herself, but got kissed in, Ned Toffey was the only to back up the talk at a very short price. These Saratoga universal good things are all low, low prices, and for me hard to take. If you like cashing at 2/5 please, I'll hold the door for you. You first.

There was one blatant post from a retired jock, whom compared It's Our Time to Flightline before hand...... He got his own arse handed it to him on a platter, unless you are Richard Migliore, I don't listen to jockeys handicapping tips and neither should you.

Even Thorpedo Anna fell from grace this past weekend, Kenny McPeek been in damage control with updates on her well being. We saw those videos and she's be a longshot to make it to Breeders Cup, at least in my eyes, the way she moved behind. The winner Gin Gin repeated her effort from the spring off big works paying $38 to show for it. Anna has been a stalwart a phenomenal mare, maybe its time to abandon the talks of her against the boys, and even to return a winner in the Distaff again, but simply sending her to the breeding shed.

Brendan Walsh has also hit his gear and when I say when he points to meet he is terrific is an understatement, and you can still get prices on him in the afternoon.

Turfway Park works & videos have been paying dividends as well specifically from the battalion of horses under Walsh's care in Florence y'all.

How about home court advantage? Statistically? Barry Meadow will tell you it’s a wash. NO edge between homebodies and shippers. But Barry never watched a Pletcher horse step off a trailer and breeze past a field like they were tied to a post, but we get the point.

You have to go with whats trending, stats are great, a staple for a handicapper, just make sure your fingers are not in the way.

I remain, above all else, a skeptic. I don’t believe in stories unless they’re backed by fact or I saw with my own two eyes,— fora good finish and a fat payout. Keeneland invites myth. It breeds it, pun intended. With runners shipping in from over a dozen different locales, the signal can get cloudy. But the smart ones—oh, they find the frequency. You find the patterns, the advantage.

Now, about that discount—yes, the public sale has ended. But if you’re reading this, and you’re smart enough to see the value in what’s to come, you write me. I’ll make it right. $400 off and then some for the best deal in town the Yearly All-inclusive, you get everything, every day plus all our features. FYI, if you buy the Simulcast edition twice a week for $29.95 each, that's $58, yearly that's $2784, you save $1185 with the all Inclusive yearly..... do the math

Just tell me what you're looking for—and I’ll find a way. There is always a way.

The week ahead is brimming with possibility.

Let’s get to work with a discount to boot

Warmest regards,

BDJ