Quills Picks Winners – Friday 4/24 – Keeneland Race 8

It is closing day (already) for the spring meet at Keeneland, and we will take a look at their featured race this afternoon. We are looking at race eight on a ten-race card. This race is the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes as older fillies and mares go a mile and a half on the turf course.

Keeneland Race 8 – Bewitch Stakes (Grade 3)

Favored in today’s race is the 9 Speed Shopper (5/2 morning line). She finished third in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream Park last month. She rallied late in this race but could not get to the top two late.

The 7 Just Basking (9/2 ML) finished half a length behind Speed Shopper last time out, and like the morning line favorite, comes to Lexington for today’s race. She may have the strongest closing kick in the bunch here this afternoon.

The 6 Mrs. Astor (4/1 ML) is making a rare trip east after racing in California for the last 18 months. She rallied late and just missed in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita last month. This mare loves the long races, but she is 0 for 4 at Keeneland with two seconds. She will have a chance to redeem herself today.

The 1 Way to Be Marie (8/1 ML) won the Tom Bemson Memorial at the Fair Grounds last month and gets to stretch out here today. She has never run at today’s distance, but this race is going to be about who can sprint home late in this race.

Joe’s Pick

There is absolutely no speed in this race. We very well could have eye popping slow fractions here this afternoon. Just Basking appears to have the strongest kick among this field of nine, and I think that she will be the one to close the strongest for this win.

I’m calling this race 7-6-9-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 7. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!