Keeneland: Horse racing pick of the day for Oct. 22

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Thursday, Oct. 22

Keeneland, Race 8: Allowance (7 furlongs, 4:57 p.m. ET)

#3 Blackberry Wine (5-1 on the morning line) showed flashes of significant talent last winter. The speedy son of Preakness (G1) winner Oxbow was particularly impressive in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race March 14 at Oaklawn, where he tracked the pace and powered clear to beat future allowance winner What a Country by 13 lengths.

Blackberry Wine hasn’t run since he finished second in an April 11 allowance race, but he has been training sharply for his return. He most recently breezed 5 furlongs from the Keeneland starting gate in :59 2/5. The Calumet Farm homebred brings competitive Brisnet Speed ratings to the table, and trainer Joe Sharp strikes at a 21% rate with horses returning from long layoffs.

A win bet on Blackberry Wine will be our first order of business, but we’ll also play him on top of #2 Silver State (3-1), #9 Julius (6-1), and #10 Stage Left (5-1) in the exacta.

$21 to win on #3 Blackberry Wine
$3 exacta: 3 with 2,9,10 ($9)
Total: $30

Good luck!