Keeneland Picks: Brown Delivers with Prat aboard on April 13

As we speak, Jockey Flavien Prat (pictured) sits atop the "rider standings" at Keeneland ... He is at it again on Wednesday! See what his chances look like ...

Keeneland Picks - Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Race 1: 8-3-4-7
Race 2: 10-5-8-1
Race 3: 9-6-4-7
Race 4: 11-5-9-3
Race 5: 4-7-6-9
Race 6: 2-5-4-8
Race 7: 7-4-9-3
Race 8: 4-8-2-7
**Most Likely Winner: Dream Music #4 (Race 8)**
**Best Value: Brown Delivers #10 (Race 2)**

The scene ... Lexington, Kentucky ... the place ... picture perfect Keeneland ... The 1st weekend of the Spring Meet is already in the books!

Now, we shift gears 4 glorious days of competition (Easter Sunday, 17 April is dark). With the Grade 1 Maker's Mark (Friday), and the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on Saturday (the last KYD148 "Points" race of the season), it is sure to be an incredible set of cards.

Opening Weekend at Keeneland saw record handle each day, and jockey Flavien Prat notched 7 wins ... all on the Main Track ... Rating just behind him is Irad Ortiz with 6 ... This will be a great competition, as others are also in the hunt. Turfwriter J.N. Campbell has your free picks, so let's go!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Wednesday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Horse Racing Picks

Most Likely Winner: (Race 8: Dream Music #4, 3/1):

With some rain over the course of Monday and Tuesday in Lexington, it will probably be best to stick to the MT. I found a gem of a runner who was claimed from Brad Cox by Tom Amoss. The LA-based trainer is getting aggressive by sending this one to Keeneland, and when he makes money moves like this, we ‘cappers need to take notice. It is not going to be an easy move to go from MC Co. to a Starter race like this one, but that off-the-turf sprint at the Fair Grounds last time was not an easy contest at all. Amoss is pretty strong when it comes to lightly-raced fillies like this one, and I suspect that this daughter of Maclean’s Music will be ready to go on Wednesday.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #4

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 2: Brown Delivers #10, 6/1):

Prat delivers 7 wins ... I am not sure that any mount of Flavien Prat’s is going to be 6/1 on the M/L come Wednesday. The travelling jockey is coming off a strong Opening Weekend, and it’s a foregone conclusion that this colt by Mshawish will take money. Rudy Brisset is a solid conditioner though, and I would expect this Turfway Park mainstay to be able to make the surface switch to dirt. His last race was an MC30k, and he ended up finishing 4th. Failing at a short price is not a be-all, end-all, failure … it could translate into a great betting opportunity. Team Valor knows how to make great investments, don’t they? I think this one is just rounding into form.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #10 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 7: Dirt, 1 1/16th, OC62.5n2x, 4+):

A really nice “highlight” to start off the second week of racing at historic Keeneland, is this 2-turn extravaganza for older runners. It is customary for trainer Chad Brown to enter an uncoupled entry on the turf, but he does employ this practice also on the dirt. Both Stage Raider #4 and the venerable Winter Pool #9 are entered. The former really missed against Prevalence down at Gulfstream Park, but that doesn’t mean that Irad Ortiz isn’t going to be guiding a potential winner. These Pioneerof the Nile-types are versatile, and I would expect that Brown has Mr. Gunther’s colt ready to fire. As for the “other” Brown play, this gelding by Curlin is a battle-tested ALLW Co. specialist. He tried KEE last fall, but ran out of real estate. He has a ’22 start under him, plus the services of Tyler Gaffalione. I already can tell you that I am going to play against both of these experienced horses. Instead, on top, I want to back Kenny McPeek’s Laughing Boy #7. Last year, this then-3-yr-old colt was progressive, climbing the class ladder at Saratoga/Churchill/Keeneland. A son of Distorted Humor, he won a tough ALLW86kn1x going 1 3/16ths at the green oval. Rested, ready, and with a new campaign ahead … he will be a good price at 8/1, or even higher … plus, he gets the services of regular rider, Brian Hernandez. This is the right spot for the Three Chimneys hometown hero! Here is the wager …

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Exacta Wheel, 7 w 4/9

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Enjoy another wonderful afternoon trackside! Best of luck on another run at historic Keeneland! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!