Princess Warrior a key play in opening-day Pick 5 at Keeneland

A pair of graded stakes, the Alcibiades (G1) and Phoenix (G3), highlight the opening-day card at Keeneland and both are part of the Pick 5 (races 6-10).

Here are my thoughts on the sequence:

Race 6: Top contenders are difficult to separate in this 7-furlong allowance/optional claiming sprint for distaffers. #1 Improv and #2 Moiety appear to be major players and I’ll include several others on most tickets.

Race 7: #2 Holiday Bonus figures to appreciate the return to entry-level allowance company following a solid fourth in the Dueling Grounds Derby. He’s the top choice. Others of interest include #1 Cite, #4 Surprise Twist and #9 Run Time.

Race 8, Phoenix (G3): #6 Richard the Great is the pick and I’ll also use #8 Uncontested and #11 Whitmore in my primary multi-race wagers. A promising sprinter in late 2014/early 2015, Richard the Great returned from a 27-month absence in late April and probably needed the first few starts back for fitness. He’s displayed nice improvement in recent starts, registering century-topping BRIS Speed, Early Pace and Late Pace numbers in the last two starts, and the 5-year-old gelding likes the 6-furlong distance (5-2-1-1).

#2 Threefiveindia, #3 Seventh Sense and #5 Limousine Liberal are back-ups.

Race 9, Alcibiades (G1): #1 Princess Warrior garnered a field-best 94 BRIS Speed rating posting a sharp debut score at Churchill Downs on September 16 and the Midshipman filly looks capable of firing right back against a mostly unproven bunch of rivals. The inside post adds to the appeal.

#2 Pacific Gale, #6 Bet She Wins, #7 Kelly’s Humor and #8 Dancing will be savers.

Race 10: #8 St. Louie towers over his rivals for Mike Maker/Jose Ortiz, he’ll be singled on most tickets. #7 Tobias and #9 Richmond Street will be used on one ticket.

50-cent Pick 5 tickets

1,2,3,5,6 with 2 with 6,8,11 with 1,2,6,7,8 with 8 = $37.50

1,2,3,5,6 with 1,4,9 with 6,8,11 with 1 with 8 = $22.50

1,2,3,5,6 with 1,2,4,9 with 2,3,5 with 1 with 8 = $30

1,2 with 1,2,4,9 with 6,8,11 with 1 with 7,9 = $24

Total = $114

Good luck!