Keeneland: $72,981 Pick 6 carryover, $300 feeder tournament

Saturday is closing day of the Keeneland fall meet, and it’s ending on a high note with a $72,981 carryover in the $1 Pick 6.

In addition, TwinSpires is hosting a $300 Keeneland Feeder to 10/27 Churchill Downs KDBC/BCBC Qualifier tournament. Wager your entire $200 bankroll across at least five races at Keeneland to compete for a seat in Sunday’s $1,000 Churchill Downs KDBC/BCBC Qualifier tournament.

The Pick 6 gets underway in Race 5 (post time 3:08 p.m. ET) and includes three stakes. The first is Race 6, the Bowman Mill S. for two-year-olds sprinting six furlongs on dirt. We’re a little skeptical of morning line favorite #4 Macho Music (2-1), who took advantage of an inside bias when wiring a $100,000 allowance optional claimer over this track and distance on Oct. 5. Macho Music is clearly talented, but he might not be unbeatable over a fair track.

Tournament players and Pick 6 bettors should consider #3 Mitty’s Griddy (7-2) as an alternative. He unleashed a fast final quarter-mile in :23.58 to rally and win his debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs. The son of champion sprinter Mitole has upside for trainer Brad Cox, a 34% winner at Keeneland this meet.

Race 8 is the Fayette (G2) taking place over 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Cox’s #8 Hit Show (2-1) is a deserving favorite after rallying to win the West Virginia Governor’s (G3) and Lukas Classic (G2) in succession. But don’t ignore #9 Grand Aspen (10-1) as a live longshot.

Grand Aspen showed encouraging form to wrap up 2023, dominating a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Churchill Downs before finishing second by a neck in the Harlan’s Holiday (G3). He’s been freshened since a misfire in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) nine months ago and has the Brisnet Speed ratings to challenge on his best day.

Race 9, the Bryan Station (G3) for three-year-olds racing one mile on turf, completes the stakes action. #11 Trikari (2-1), winner of the Belmont Derby (G1), Secretariat (G2), and American Turf (G2) this year, is a must-use contender after finishing fourth by 1 1/2 lengths against older horses in the City of Hope Mile (G2).

But don’t dismiss #4 My Boy Prince (15-1) as a live longshot. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) third-place finisher is a capable grass competitor exiting a sixth-place finish against older rivals in the tough Woodbine Mile (G1). Returning to the three-year-olds ranks should make My Boy Prince dangerous at double-digit odds. For tournament players, boxing Trikari and My Boy Prince in the exacta (with a greater emphasis on the lower-paying combination with Trikari on top) is an appealing strategy.

Good luck!