Keeneland: Stakes spot plays for Oct. 10

The popular Keeneland fall meet continues Saturday, with two more graded stakes, including a quality renewal of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1).

A competitive edition of the $200,000 Fayette (G2) precedes the feature event.

Let’s play both races on a $50 budget.

Race 8: Fayette (G2, 4:57 p.m. ET)

This 1 1/8-mile main-track test didn’t come up particularly tough, so I’ll take a shot with the up-and-coming #1 Coastal Defense (6-1).

A lightly raced 4-year-old trained by Dale Romans, Coastal Defense took a step forward in his first start at two turns on dirt, when he wired a 1 1/16-mile allowance Sept. 27 at Churchill Downs.

Coastal Defense has finished fast in his last two runs to earn Brisnet Late Pace ratings of 110 and 101.

As a son of Curlin, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Trensa, Coastal Defense is a half-brother to the Grade 1-winning routers Hawkbill and Free Drop Billy, so he should relish every inch of the Fayette distance.

Coastal Defense is worth betting to win and keying in the exacta, with multiple graded stakes winner #6 Mr Freeze (3-1) and the improving two-time allowance winner #10 Aurelius Maximus (10-1).

$12 to win on #1 Coastal Defense
$3 exacta: 1 with 6,10 ($6)
$6 exacta: 6,10 with 1 ($12)
Total: $30

Race 9: Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1, 5:30 p.m. ET)

#4 Magic Attitude (5-2) and #1 Harvey’s Lil Goil (3-1) appear a cut above their rivals in this 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies.

The beautifully bred Magic Attitude competed admirably against tough company in France. She then fired a huge effort in her U.S. debut, when she rallied boldly to win the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks (G1).

Harvey’s Lil Goil — a stakes winner on both dirt and turf — enters off a gallant, runner-up effort in the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Oaks, where she was beaten only a neck, after she led by two lengths into the stretch.

The shorter distance of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup should be more suitable for the speedy Harvey’s Lil Goil, who won the Regret (G3) over this distance during the summer. It might be a hair short for Magic Attitude, so let’s box these two in the exacta and call it a day.

$10 exacta box: 1,4 ($20)

Good luck!