Friday's Best Bet: Sacred Life sparkles in Maker's Mark Mile
Friday’s 9th race from Keeneland is the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile for 4-year-olds and up traveling one mile on the turf course (Post Time - 5:30 p.m. ET).
#4 SACRED LIFE (4-1) smartly won a local allowance turf route in 2019 and that was his only start at Keeneland. He is capable of firing a fresh shot for Chad Brown and this is a good distance for the classy late runner.
#8 Raging Bull (7-2) rallied to miss by a neck in this event last year. The late running flat mile specialist usually fires off the bench for Chad Brown.
#2 Hit the Road (4-1) won his last four flat mile turf starts in Southern California. His tactical speed always leads to a nice trip and Florent Geroux got to know him in the Kilroe Mile (G1) March 6.
#5 Darain (8-1) showed nice late interest in both Fair Grounds turf routes this year for Brad Cox. He gets tested for class in this event and will try to get involved late.
#6 Ride a Comet (6-1) had his four-race win streak snapped in a disappointing 7th place finish in the Kilroe Mile March 6. He fired a turf bullet for this March 28 and might be able to bounce back.
#3 Somelikeithotbrown (6-1) stalked strong fractions from the rail before weakening in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) late last year. The early-pressing type went all the way in the Bernard Baruch (G2) at Saratoga last summer and is capable of competing with these on his best day.
#1 Get Smokin (8-1) exits a game prominent throughout victory in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3). The improving 4-year-old gelding will probably try to set the pace from the hedge.
#9 Field Pass (8-1) makes his first start as a 4-year-old and must prove that he can defeat a deep, classy group. He won five stakes races as a sophomore including the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland.
#7 Flying Scotsman (30-1) set the pace and weakened as a longshot in the Kilroe Mile (G1). He figures to impact the pace but probably won’t be around at the finish.
Wagers:
#4 to win
Exacta 4/2-8
Exacta 2-8/4
Trifecta 4/ALL/2-8