Innovative Idea Gets Dirt Test in Alcibiades

Darley Stable’s Innovative Idea will attempt to go from first-start maiden winner to Grade 1 winner Friday when she goes postward in Friday’s Darley Alcibiades (G1).

“She is one of the better 2-year-olds we have, but a lot of times you don’t know what to expect on Polytrack,” said Whit Beckman, assistant to trainer Eoin Harty. “Her pedigree (Bernardini out of a Seeking the Gold mare) says she should like the dirt.”

Innovative Idea debuted Sept. 4 at Arlington Park and romped to a 4¼-length victory going 6½ furlongs over the all-weather surface.

“She came to our barn in May from Saratoga,” Whitman said. “She jogged here yesterday and galloped today and that is the first time I have seen her on dirt.”

James Graham, who was aboard Innovative Idea at Arlington, has the mount Friday.

The 32-year-old Beckman, a native of Louisville, is back at Keeneland for the first time since the 2012 Spring Meet when he was an assistant to Todd Pletcher. Last year he worked in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Keeneland