Mike Battaglia

Mike is Keeneland’s longtime odds maker and is recognized as being one of the best handicappers in America. In addition to his duties at Keeneland, he is a racing analyst for NBC’s Thoroughbred racing coverage.




Saturday, April 13, 2013

1st Race: OFF THE PAGE (#3) has the speed to be in front and figures to be tough to catch today. STRONG RESPONSE (#6) owns a win over the Keeneland surface and looks dangerous. SAYAAD (#2) gets Lasix for the first time and has been training well.

2nd Race: SILVER VALUE (#3) broke bad in both of his races on the Gulfstream turf. A better start should make him a winner for trainer Mike Maker and jockey Javier Castellano. JAGGER M (#8) has run well in all three of his races and is the main competition. MONGOL BOSS (#9) is a first-timer also trained by Maker.

3rdRace: APEX (#8) was second to Toyota Blue Grass (G1) runner Palace Malice in August and comes off a solid runner-up finish in his first start back after a six-month layoff. He shouldn’t mind the move to the Polytrack and is bred to love the added distance. BELLARMINE (#5) ran well in both of his races in Florida and is a definite threat in a tough maiden test. OVERWHELMING (#7) is an improving runner from the trainer Shug McGaughey barn with the speed to be dangerous.

4th Race: TETRADRACHM (#3) didn’t fire last out but has a solid turf record and his best could make him a winner in a wide-open race. TWINSPIRED (#7) was much the best last out at Fair Grounds. He will be running late and can’t be left out of the gimmicks. IMAGINING (#5) has been off since July but is in the capable hands of trainer Shug McGaughey.

5th Race: RED RIFLE (#10) was a good-looking maiden winner in his debut at Gulfstream and has posted a couple of nice works since that score. He has the speed to be in contention throughout and looks like a good bet to make it two in a row for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Javier Castellano. MUDFLATS (#8) exits three straight graded races and will appreciate the class drop today. ETON BLUE (#7) was overmatched in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) but definitely fits in here.

6th Race – Commonwealth Stakes (G3): BERNIE THE MAESTRO (#5) is a veteran runner who moves up and down the class ladder. He will have to be at his best as he tries graded stakes company for the first time in recent years but gets the nod for the hot team of owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker. GANTRY (#1) has been no match for Delaunay at Fair Grounds but has run well to finish second in three straight races. He is the one to beat. BIND (#3) has never run in a graded race but has not finished worse than third in his six career races.

7th Race – Shakertown Stakes (G3): SOMETHING EXTRA (#1) figures to break sharply from the inside post and should be on or near the lead throughout. He comes off of an excellent runner-up finish at Gulfstream Park and a repeat of that one makes him a winner today. PERFECT OFFICER (#8) won this race last year and is training sharply for his 7-year-old debut. HAVELOCK (#5) likes this turf course and is a contender.

8th Race – Madison (G1): FANTASY OF FLIGHT (#10) is a consistent runner who has finished in the money in nine of her 11 races. She won over this track last year and likes the seven-furlong distance. She should get a good trip under jockey Javier Castellano and rates the edge. QUEEN’S AWARD (#2) takes a big class hike but loves the Keeneland Polytrack and will be running at the end. SHUMOOS (#7) has the speed to be dangerous.

9th Race – Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1): CENTRE COURT (#1) looked very sharp winning her first race back after a four- month layoff. She has never been worse than second in nine turf races and should get a good trip from just off the pace. Jockey Julien Leparoux is back aboard for Rusty Arnold and she appears well spotted to win. DAISY DEVINE (#8) figures to go right to the lead. She won this race in wire-to-wire fashion last year and is definitely the one to catch. OLD TUNE (#2) is undefeated in two starts in the U.S. and is a contender.

10th Race – Toyota Blue Grass (G1): RYDILLUC (#13) has reeled off three straight impressive scores on the turf and has been training exceptionally well over the Keeneland Polytrack. Jockey Edgar Prado, who has won the Toyota Blue Grass three times, should have him in good position throughout and he gets the slight edge in a tough race. JAVA’S WAR (#4) closed strongly in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and should get a legitimate pace scenario again today. He will be running late again and will be hard to beat. UNCAPTURED (#7) needed his race in the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Racing Spiral Stakes (G3). He figures to move forward off that effort and he never runs a bad race. He is a solid contender in a wide- open race.

11th Race: DUBIOUS MISS (#1) loves this track and looks like a winner with Corey Lanerie aboard for trainer Paul McGee. WORKIN FOR HOPS (#9) regained his winning form last out and looks like the one to beat. GUNG HO (#6) fits in here.

12th Race: KATOUNI (#3) showed improvement in her second career start and should be able to get her maiden win today. RAFAELINI (#1) comes off a solid effort and figures to get a good trip from the inside post. LIZ PENDENS (#5) is a contender.

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