Wednesday's Keeneland Bailout Special pick appeals to a higher 'Power'

During Keeneland’s Spring Meet, I introduced my “Bailout Special” which, simply, is a handicapping piece that highlights which horse I think will win each card’s finale.

Had a bad day at the track? Use the “Bailout Special” to get some of that money back.

Have a good day at the track and want to finish strong? There’s the “Bailout Special.”

Maybe you’re looking for a bold single to end a Pick 4 or Pick 5 sequence. Use the “Bailout Special.”

The horse I land on won’t always be the horse with the best perceived value. Neither will it be the horse I think “could win if the pace scenario sets up perfectly.”

My selection will be the horse that I think has the absolute best chance to win the race regardless of projected odds.

Were some of my winners (I went 7-for-16 in the Spring Meet) the prohibitive favorite? Yes.

Were some of the winners so-called easy selections? Yes.

But the goal is to pick the winner of the last race of the day at Keeneland every day they run. I’ll have some horses scratch, and if the weather is bad and the finale comes off the turf, there may not be a pick to play.

1 3/16 miles on turf; post time 4:57 p.m. ET

 

A competitive allowance race in the finale, and we’re going to beat the 8-5 morning line favorite with the help of some divine intervention.

 

There doesn’t appear to be much speed subscribed to this turf route, and most of the contenders seem to be bunched to the outside.

 

The favorite is deserving, but the 8-5 morning line seems to be skewed a bit. 

 

Bundibunan (post 3) is that top choice but he hasn’t won since February at Tampa Bay Downs. His speed figures and level of competition faced recently makes him a contender, but he represents no value and isn’t the most likely winner in my opinion.

 

The three horses on the outside are the ones to watch here, with Lake Nakuru (post 12) the farthest out on the gate.

 

A winner three races ago at Ellis Park in July, the winning jockey that day was Corey Lanerie, who is riding Bundibunan today. James Graham picks up the mount, and he isn’t having the success at Keeneland as he was at Churchill Downs last summer.

 

J Beresford Tipton (post 11) for trainer Arnaud Delacour will be well bet in this allowance race, as he won at first asking at Delaware Park three starts ago and has shown increasing ability and figures in each subsequent race.

 

Mid-Atlantic stalwart jockey Trevor McCarty is the pilot for J Beresford Tipton and, like Graham, is a bit of a downgrade, although McCarthy did ride this Animal Kingdom ridgling to his maiden victory.

 

Wednesday's Bailout Special will come at a nice price, as Preacher Power (post 10) is listed at 12-1 on the morning line and was well-beaten in his last non-effort in a 6 ½-furlong sprint at Kentucky Downs in September.

 

Preacher Power broke his maiden on the Keeneland turf and of the most outside drawn horses has had the sharpest works in preparation for this race.

 

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. hasn’t had a great Keeneland meet, either, but of the three, is the one I prefer in this spot.

 

Play and pray for Preacher Power to get the job done in the Wednesday finale at Keeneland.

 

Key Preacher Power over  J Beresford Tipton, Lake Nakuru and Bundibunan in exactas and trifectas.