Keeneland Race Course Picks – Friday, October 16, 2020

Among the usual maiden, allowance, and claiming races on its ten-race card, Keenland Race Course features the Pin Oak Valley View Stakes (Grade III).

Remember that while I cover today’s richest races at Keeneland, you can always find the full list of races, entries, jockeys, and wagering options at one of our recommended online racebooks.

Read on for my Keeneland Race Course picks and tips for Friday’s races.

This is an allowance race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of 5-1/2 furlongs on turf for a purse of $73,000.

I agree with the morning line in this race, so my money’s on the 5/2 favorite—Explorer, with veteran jockey Florent Geroux in the irons. This five-year-old gelding moneyed all six of his career starts, winning two of them.

I know you’re looking at that 50/1 longshot and salivating, but you’re going to have to settle for betting on the 12/1 Grandal, ridden by Mitchell Murrell, and here’s why: This four-year-old gelding won both of his career starts. So you get to bet him across-the-board here, and not just a show bet for pocket change. You’re welcome.

This is an allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of six furlongs for a purse of $78,000.

I’m sticking with the 9/5 morning line favorite here—Honest Mischief, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard. This four-year-old colt moneyed eight of his nine career starts and won four of them.

And I like the 15/1 Bon Raison, with Adam Beschizza in the irons, for a show ticket. While it appears this five-year-old’s connections may have been a bit overambitious with his entries into stakes races, Bon Raison still moneyed 21 of his 42 career starts, winning 10 of them. Show ticket only.

This is the Pin Oak Valley View Stakes (Grade III), a race for three-year-old fillies running a distance of 1-1/16 miles on turf for a purse of $150,000.

With reservations, I’m sticking with the 3/1 morning line favorite in this stakes race—Antoinette, with Manuel Franco aboard. This filly moneyed eight of her nine career starts, winning three of them. It’s important to note that the majority of her starts were in stakes races, virtually guaranteeing a much higher level of competition than the day-to-day allowance races.

That said, I think Antoinette’s nearest competitor will be the 8/1 underdog Sugar Fix, ridden by Adam Beschizza. This filly moneyed ten of her 14 career starts, winning seven of them. I’m betting Sugar Fix across the board.

I found plenty more wagering opportunities for today at these two horse racing tracks: