How to bet the Bourbon Stakes

A full field of 12 will go postward in Sunday’s $200,000 Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland. The “Win and You’re In” challenge series event will reward the first-place finisher with a berth in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Bourbon Analysis

#4 Into the Sunrise will be sent from the start on the stretch out for Ward, and he will be joined by stablemate #7 Blame the Booze. The duo will be tracked by #8 Arrest Me Red and #10 Mutasaabeq into the first turn.

Bourbon Contenders

#1 INDY TOURIST -- Maker trainee was a closing third at Kentucky Downs last time out and gets the rail for his graded debut. Tourist colt has the positional speed to keep touch early on, and he will rate a chance with another forward move under Gaffalione.

#2 HIDDEN ENEMY -- Maiden son of Galileo ran a pair of solid races at Saratoga, including a clear second in his most recent assignment. $150,000 yearling purchase comes in with two useful turf drills in the interim, and Rosario retains the mount.

#3 REALLY SLOW -- Longshot graduated at Ellis Park two back, prior to finishing sixth in his stakes bow last out. Congrats gelding has yet to run fast enough to topple a field of this quality and he would be a surprise.

#4 INTO THE SUNRISE -- Likely one to catch was a brave second in the Soaring Free S. at Woodbine in advance of his graded debut for Ward. Into Mischief colt will run with blinkers off in his first try around two turns, and he is a logical win player if left alone in the early stages. Rafael Bejarano will be in the silks.

#5 PRIVATE ISLAND -- Recent maiden victor has shown nice improvement since moving to the lawn for Wilkes. Son of Bodemeister will need big improvement to upset this field, however, with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the silks.

#6 ABARTA -- $200,000 son of Into Mischief got up late from off the pace to win on debut for Brad Cox. Kentucky-bred didn’t beat a highly rated field on the day, but the colt could surely move forward second time out and make the frame at a nice price under Rispoli.

#7 BLAME THE BOOZE -- Second from the Ward shedrow has run in two off-the-turf sprints to kick off his career and could be any kind on the green. Speedy son of Blame is bred to handle the trip, and he shows a bullet morning drill on the Keeneland turf two back, as well. Corrales will ride the intriguing gelding.

#8 ARREST ME RED -- Upset pick handled good turf at Laurel Park with ease in a powerful debut victory for Correas. Gelded son of Pioneeerof the Nile will surely appreciate the added ground on Sunday, and I envision him sitting just off the early pace prior to getting first run on the closers turning for home. Value play will have James Graham on board.

#9 NATHAN DETROIT -- Union Rags colt made good at first asking with a solid tally for Reeve McGaughey. April foal comes in fresh for his stakes debut with a nice string of morning moves, led by a bullet work at this locale most recently. Julien Leparoux riding adds to the appeal.

#10 MUTASAABEQ -- Win contender was heavily hyped from the Pletcher barn this summer and was a fine debut winner on the dirt, prior to coming home third in the recent Hopeful (G1). $425,000 weanling purchase is bred to run long and should thrive on  the green. Shadwell color bearer will track the early tempo with Saez riding.

#11 BARRISTER TOM -- Stakes-winning son of Artie Schiller is perfect from a pair of grassy endeavors for Ewing. March foal has good early foot and obvious talent, but a tough post draw could hurt his chances in his first outing on the Keeneland turf. Florent Geroux will ride and put this one into the race early on.

#12 SPYGLASS -- Tapit colt showed marked improvement on the move to the sod with a maiden victory at Kentucky Downs second time out. Asmussen pupil drew widest of all, however, and others look more appealing in the well-matched cast.

Bourbon Wagers

• $20 Win and Place: #8 Arrest Me Red ($40)
• $5 Exacta Box: 8-10 ($10)