The highly anticipated Keeneland Fall Meet gets underway Friday, and the biggest race on opening day is the $650,000 Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes.
The Alcibiades is a 1 1/16-mile dirt race that serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Oct. 30 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, which will take place at the same track and distance as the Alcibiades.
The last two editions of the Alcibiades have been won by fillies who previously triumphed in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga. Can #5 Summer Starlet continue the trend and complete a sweep of the Spinaway-Alcibiades double? It’s a strong possibility.
Summer Starlet is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. She debuted in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga and rallied strongly from seventh place to dominate by 6 1/2 lengths. Next in the Spinaway, she showed improved early speed, tracking the pace from third place before taking over to triumph by 4 3/4 lengths.
Summer Starlet is the most accomplished of the Alcibiades entrants. She has the pedigree to stretch out to 1 1/16 miles, and she’s picking up two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat. In short, the stage appears set for Summer Starlet to secure a third straight victory.
Whether you’re betting on a small budget ($12) or a somewhat larger budget ($30), I recommend playing Summer Starlet on top in the trifecta, which requires selecting the top three finishers in order.
Underneath Summer Starlet, #4 Oh She Said Yes is a must-use filly. I recommend counting on her to finish either second or third.
Oh She Said Yes debuted in a one-mile maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs and rallied from behind a quick pace to dominate by 5 1/4 lengths. She’s trained by Kenny McPeek, whose debut-winning juveniles develop into talented stakes horses with respectable frequency. There’s a good chance Oh She Said Yes will improve meaningfully in the Alcibiades, and take note, McPeek has won this race five times.
I’ll round out my trifecta tickets with Sorority Stakes winner #1 Emphatic, Saratoga maiden special weight race winner #6 Forever Carina, and runaway Churchill Downs allowance winner #8 Elewene.
Wagering Strategy on a $12 Budget
$2 trifecta: 5 with 4 with 1,6,8 (total cost: $6)
What to say at the betting window: Keeneland, Race 9, $2 trifecta 5 with 4 with 1,6,8
$2 trifecta: 5 with 1,6,8 with 4 (total cost: $6)
What to say at the betting window: Keeneland, Race 9, $2 trifecta 5 with 1,6,8 with 4
Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget
$5 trifecta: 5 with 4 with 1,6,8 (total cost: $15)
What to say at the betting window: Keeneland, Race 9, $5 trifecta 5 with 4 with 1,6,8
$5 trifecta: 5 with 1,6,8 with 4 (total cost: $15)
What to say at the betting window: Keeneland, Race 9, $5 trifecta 5 with 1,6,8 with 4
Good luck, and enjoy the race!
