A talented group of three-year-old fillies will take center stage this Friday at Keeneland in the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes. The $400,000 headline event features a mix of proven stakes winners and rising prospects tackling the unique Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet.
Sneaky Good, coming off a strong third-place effort in the Grade 3 Honeybee, leads the charge as the morning-line favorite.
The sprint lured a competitive field where A Fine Chardonnay, a previous stakes winner over this surface, and the battle-tested Kingsolver look to derail the favorite’s plans. With a rich purse and graded black type on the line, the pace should be honest from the jump.
Spot On The Field
1) Coco Connect (30-1): Reports are that this filly is better suited for sprinting after a few lackluster efforts around two turns. She earned her diploma over this track last fall and has shown the ability to stalk and pounce in shorter races. While her top speed figures need to find another gear to match this group, she has a history of bouncing back after poor route performances.
3) Sneaky Good (9-5): This Into Mischief filly enters as the one to beat following a solid showing against top-tier competition at Oaklawn Park. The data shows the horses she finished behind in her last start have since performed well in major Kentucky Oaks preps. She won her debut at Keeneland with ease and should appreciate cutting back to a sprint distance where her natural speed can be a weapon.
4) Kingsolver (8-1): Returning from a layoff since October, this daughter of Omaha Beach has been training steadily at Keeneland for her seasonal debut. She was a consistent performer last year, finishing second in the local Myrtlewood Stakes behind a rival she faces again today. She possesses high early speed, and if she has matured during her time away, she could be a major threat on the lead.
6) Wrong Shoes (15-1): After breaking her maiden against claiming company here in the fall, she has shown a steady upward trend in her speed ratings. She comes off a career-best effort when finishing fourth in the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn. While she still needs to find more to reach the level of the favorites, her familiarity with the surface and a Hall of Fame rider back aboard make her an intriguing inclusion.
7) A Fine Chardonnay (5-2): This filly already boasts a win in the Myrtlewood Stakes over this main track, proving she handles the surroundings perfectly. She recently finished third in a fast sprint at Gulfstream Park, which should serve as a perfect tightener for this longer assignment. The way she finishes her races suggests the extra distance today will not be an issue for her.
Spot On Picks
Win: (3) Sneaky Good (9-5) – She has faced the toughest company, and her local win proves she loves this dirt. She should sit just off the early leaders and take over in the stretch.
Place: (7) A Fine Chardonnay (5-2) – A proven stakes winner on this track who will be coming late. Her last race was a perfect prep for this, and she should be moving fastest of all at the end.
Show: (4) Kingsolver (8-1) – Likely to be part of the early pace. While the layoff is a question, her back class and local form suggest she can hold on for a share.
Wildcard: (1) Coco Connect (30-1) – If the front-runners get into a heated duel and tire, she is the type of closer who could pass them all at massive odds.
Longshot: (6) Wrong Shoes (15-1) – Her speed figures are improving every time she steps on the track. With a clean trip, she can easily outrun her high odds.
Be the first to comment