Ball Dancing 'In Great Shape' After Jenny Wiley

On Sunday morning, trainer Chad Brown said Ball Dancing came out of her 2 ½-length victory in Saturday’s Jenny Wiley (G1) “in great shape.” The performance in the 1 1/16-mile race marked the first Grade 1 victory for the 4-year-old Exchange Rate filly, who was second to stablemate Stephanie’s Kitten in the 1 1/8-mile Hillsborough (G3) at Tampa Bay on March 7 in her 2015 debut.

“She ran to her training,” Brown said about Ball Dancing. “She’d been training super going into the race.”

Brown said he wasn’t sure what might be next for Ball Dancing, who will return to his string in New York. He said he will determine a plan with owners Will Farish and F. Steve Mooney.

The Jenny Wiley was the second Keeneland race for Ball Dancing, who was second to Crown Queen in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Lane’s End. The filly began her career in France and now has made four starts in North America.

“She’s really done well,” Brown said about Ball Dancing’s progress since last year. “She’s gotten a lot sharper in her training; therefore, we weren’t concerned about cutting her back to a mile and a sixteenth. The way she ran yesterday, we possibly could cut her to a mile. She’s a very versatile horse. I’d say she could run anywhere from a mile to a mile and a quarter. We’re very lucky to have her in the stable.”

Second in the Jenny Wiley was Filimbi, who also was fine the morning after the race, said Rodolphe Brisset, assistant to trainer Bill Mott.

Third-place finisher Hard Not to Like also came out of the race well, according to Lee Vickers, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement.

Personal Diary, fourth in the Jenny Wiley, came out of the race fine, according to Phil Oliver, husband of trainer Vicki Oliver. He said the $300,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on May 2 is a possibility for a next start.

Trainer Neil Pessin said pacesetter Eden Prairie would be getting a little time off after her fifth-place finish.

SATURDAY ATTENDANCE THIRD-BEST IN KEENELAND HISTORY

The 37,193 fans at Keeneland on Saturday, which featured clear blue skies and temperatures in the 60s, represented the third-highest attendance in track history.

The 11-race card, known as Coolmore Lexington Day, featured the $300,000 Jenny Wiley (G1), won by Ball Dancing; the $250,000 Coolmore Lexington (G3), won by Divining Rod; the $150,000 Ben Ali (G3), won by Protonico; and the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway, won by Katie’s Eyes.

PROTONICO KEEPS PLETCHER BANDWAGON ON A ROLL
Sumaya U.S. Stable’s Protonico gave the Todd Pletcher barn its third graded stakes victory of the Spring Meet with a wire-to-wire, five-length triumph in Saturday’s Ben Ali (G3).

“He came out of the race fine. They couldn’t keep his feet on the ground in the test barn after the race,” said Tristan Barry, top assistant to Pletcher at Keeneland. “He was his same, ornery self this morning.”

The Pletcher barn, which also claimed first-place money in Saturday’s $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) with Race Day, has posted Grade 1 victories here this meet with Carpe Diem in the Toyota Blue Grass and Jack Milton in the Maker’s 46 Mile.

In the Coolmore Lexington, Comfort finished fourth in his stakes debut and in his first start for Pletcher.

“He ran a better race than it looked,” Barry said. “Had the race been a sixteenth of a mile further, he would have been second. He showed he is more of an afternoon horse than a morning horse.”

Through the first six days of the 15-day Spring Meet, Pletcher leads the trainer standings with six victories.

WORK TAB
Among the 15 grass workers over “good” ground Sunday morning were Hootenanny and Luck of the Kitten, the 1-2 finishers in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The two Wesley Ward horses worked together around the dogs in :52.60 for a half-mile with the last quarter in :24.20. Luck of the Kitten is entered in Wednesday’s Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select. Hootenanny is being pointed to the $250,000 American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs on May 2. …

Grade 1 winner and millionaire Imagining, a nominee to the April 18 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2), worked a half-mile in company in :50.40.

Grade 1 winner Stephanie’s Kitten worked five furlongs in 1:04 in company in preparation for an expected run against males in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs. …

Grade 1-placed Caroline Thomas worked a half-mile on her own in :50.80 in preparation for the Bewitch (G3) here on April 24. …

Working on the fast main track for the Transylvania was Grade 2-placed A Lot, who went three furlongs in :36.20 after the morning renovation break. 

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
$100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, race on Friday, April 17) – Blue Violet, Deceptive Vision, Flashy American, Handmade, Pretty Fancy, Tiz Windy.

$250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) (Entries taken Wednesday, race on Saturday, April 18) – Aldous Snow, Biz The Nurse (IRE), Cozy Kitten, Dynamic Sky, Holiday Star, Java’s War, My Afleet, Reflecting, Unitarian.

$150,000 Bewitch (G3) (Entries taken Tuesday, April 21, race on Friday, April 24) – Caroline Thomas, Danza Cavallo (FR), Meri Shika (FR), Samiam, Super Sky.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Sunday, April 12
Keeneland’s inaugural Kids Club Day gives all Kids Club members and their families free general admission with their Kids Club badge at any pass gate. Children’s activities, including face painting and crafts, in the North Terrace from noon to 4 p.m. The Keeneland Kids Club is the free Official Kids Club for Keeneland fans 12 and under. Members of the Kids Club will receive a personalized membership pass, birthday card from Buckles, discounts, invitations to exclusive Kids Club events and more.

Tuesday, April 14
Keeneland Lecture Series. Glenye and Christopher Oakford of Lexington discuss their book, Iroquois Hunt: A Bluegrass Foxhunting Tradition. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Keeneland Library and is free and open to the public. The presentation will be followed by a reception and book-signing with the couple. The Keeneland Library is easily accessed through Gate 1 (Keeneland Blvd.) at Versailles Road and Man o’ War Blvd. On Keeneland Blvd., take the first right, which is Entertainment Court, and head toward the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center. The Library is to the left.

Source: Keeneland Barn Notes