Keeneland Racecourse- Selections- Wednesday, April 22, 2026
6 min read
Keeneland’s Wednesday card on April 22, 2026 sets the stage for a classic spring afternoon in Lexington, highlighted by competitive allowance and stakes‑quality runners across the program. The feature race of the day is Race 7, an allowance event headlined by standout contenders Beyond Belief and Evanescence, each bringing strong form and compelling running styles into the spotlight
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Keeneland — April 22, 2026 — Full Card Analysis
RACE 1 — Starter Allowance, 7 Furlongs, Dirt
Top 3 Contenders:
- #2 Get Her Number (3-5) — Elite speed figure of 97.4, won last out at FG against similar, Jose Ortiz aboard, and has dominated at this level with back-to-back wins.
- #5 Air of Defiance (4-1) — Back-to-back wins at OP including a 112 pace figure, comfortable on the front end, fits the conditions perfectly at seven furlongs.
- #3 Big Gain (5-2) — Showed strong improvement at OP in route work, Irad Ortiz Jr. up for Norm Casse who is 2-1-1 in two starts at meet.
Longshot Value Play: #5 Air of Defiance (4-1) While technically not a longshot, the real overlay here is Air of Defiance — posted a monster 112 pace figure winning his last, fits the conditions with two wins at this exact class, and Cunningham’s horse is being underestimated against the heavy favorite.
RACE 2 — Maiden, 2YO Fillies, 4½F Headley Course
Top 3 Contenders:
- #5 Sanchoo K (8-5) — Top trainer Wesley Ward at 50% for the meet, Irad Ortiz Jr. up, sold for $425,000 at KEE, and Ward’s 2-year-old turf sprinters are notoriously razor-sharp first out.
- #10 Express Success (4-1) — Gun Runner filly from Winchell/Asmussen, bullet-like 3F work of :36.0 best of 61 at Keeneland, Jose Ortiz riding.
- #7 Ruiva (9-2) — Three Chimneys filly by Munnings, Wesley Ward’s second runner adds depth; sharp :35.20 bullet workout best of 6 in mid-March.
Longshot Value Play: #2 Jettie’s Beach (15-1) Ben Colebrook wins at 55% for the meet, Charlatan filly with four consecutive works at Keeneland tightening nicely (:36.60, :36.80, :36.80, :37.0), and first-out Keeneland maiden turf sprints are wide open — this filly fits the profile of a sharp, well-prepped debut runner.
RACE 3 — Claiming $25,000, 6½F, Fillies & Mares
Top 3 Contenders:
- #3 Don’t Say It (5-2) — Brad Cox at 73% for the meet, Machado up, won last out at $30K class at TP and drops back into comfortable territory; synthetic specialist who handles dirt off the turf well.
- #5 Commanded (7-2) — Won at this class level, showed 78 speed figure in synthetic, recent Keeneland works are solid, and the McKeever barn has been active.
- #6 Right Now (9-2) — Consistent performer with a 86 speed rating, ran second last out at TP in the SOC, fits perfectly at 6½F on dirt.
Longshot Value Play: #1 Frango Electrico (8-1) Won last out at TP for trainer/owner Ismael Bahena, posted a 75 speed figure, and a bullet workout of :36.75 best of 4 on April 10 signals peak fitness. Drops from the AOC level into a straight $25K claiming field and has already beaten this quality of competition.
RACE 4 — Allowance, 12F Turf (Haggin Course)
Top 3 Contenders:
- #5 Operation Overlord (5-2) — Todd Pletcher at 67% for the meet, Irad Ortiz Jr. up, won the only maiden start at GP in gate-to-wire fashion, second at GP in a 12F turf event — this distance is clearly his best.
- #10 Relative Value GB (4-1) — Chad Brown at 42% for the meet, Flavien Prat up, won debut impressively at Tampa and placed second in the only other start — lightly raced with tons of upside.
- #8 Lazlo (8-1) — Competitive at the Allowance NW1X level, ran second at TP in a 12F event, Joel Rosario up for Michael Maker who places horses well.
Longshot Value Play: #1 My Boy Tony (12-1) Has placed in six of 18 career starts, ran second in this exact race condition (12F Haggin Course) on April 24, 2025, and Eddie Kenneally is 37% at the meet. The distance is his absolute best — four of five placings have come at 12 furlongs — and he’s being overlooked at a generous price.
RACE 5 — Maiden/Claiming $30,000, 6F, 3YO+
Top 3 Contenders:
- #1 Editor (5-2) — Repole/Sharp barn (Sharp at 44% for meet), Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, ran second in a $50K maiden claimer at FG, strong gate presence — clear form edge in this field.
- #3 Nanosecond (7-2) — Pletcher at 67% meet win rate, Flavien Prat up, WinStar-bred Into Mischief colt, best workout of the card on April 21 at Payson Park; well-meant despite modest prior numbers.
- #9 Turn and Run (30-1) — Bullet workout of 5F in 1:01 best of 21 on April 11 at Keeneland is the standout work in the race, Hancock barn historically places debut horses well.
Longshot Value Play: #10 Jack Charles GB (6-1) Wesley Ward at 50% for the meet with a first-time starter, solid works including a 5F in 1:00.0 second of 18 on March 20 and a 5F in 1:00.40 on March 13 — Ward’s imports regularly fire fresh, and this Pinatubo colt from Britain is packing quality European breeding. The 6-1 price is generous for a Ward/first-out runner at Keeneland.
RACE 6 — Allowance, 5½F Turf (Haggin Course), Fillies & Mares 4UP
Top 3 Contenders:
- #8 Pandora’s Gift IRE (8-5) — Highest speed rating in the field at 91, placed in multiple graded stakes, sharp recent Payson Park works including a bullet :49.0 on April 2, Flavien Prat up — class edge is significant.
- #4 Big Trouble (7-2) — Won a $100K stakes at FG in November, Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, consistent in the 83-90 speed figure range at this distance, Foley barn places these very well.
- #1 Lovely Emma (6-1) — Back-to-back wins in 2026 including a stakes at FG, Jose Ortiz riding, best Keeneland turf record in the field (2-0-1-0), and a 97 pace figure two back shows she can roll.
Longshot Value Play: #9 She’s a Tempest (8-1) Won last out at FG at 5F turf for Kenneally (37% meet), Ben Curtis riding, posted a 91 pace figure — the exact trip this race sets up to be. Has placed at this level multiple times and is being undervalued in a field where the favorite has been off the track since September.
RACE 7 — AOC $100,000, 6½F, Fillies & Mares 4UP
Top 3 Contenders:
- #3 Lynn’s Milky Way (9-5) — Highest speed rating at 92, back-to-back wins in 2026 including a wire-to-wire score at GP, Irad Ortiz Jr. up — dominant front-running form fits the distance.
- #6 Evanescence (5-2) — Won at FG in February with a 97 Beyer, Jose Ortiz riding, placed third in the Leslie’s Lady Stakes, Eddie Kenneally at 37% for meet.
- #4 Marmalade Skye (9-2) — Won last out at TP in March, consistent 83-87 speed figures at 6-7F, Flavien Prat up for trainer Jacobson who knows this filly well.
Longshot Value Play: #2 Roswell (8-1) Won at Aqueduct in November at 6½F dirt with a strong 94 figure, Johnny Velazquez up for Hall of Famer Bill Mott (43% win rate for the meet) — the Mott/Velazquez combination at Keeneland is historically formidable and Roswell has sharp recent Payson Park works. The 8-1 price is a significant overlay given connections.
RACE 8 — Maiden, 9F Turf (Haggin Course), 3YO+
Top 3 Contenders:
- #10 Gold Sovereign (4-1) — Chad Brown at 42% meet, Flavien Prat up, improving in each start with a gaining third in a $170K KD maiden and second at Keeneland last fall — the Calumet/Brown combination is powerfully placed here.
- #12 Bull Shoals (5-1) — Ran a strong second at GP in a 7F turf maiden on debut, bullet workout of 5F in :59.87 best of 2 on April 10 — Antonucci places first-time-around horses sharply.
- #2 Nyquistador (6-1) — Led until deep stretch in both 2026 starts including a mile synthetic maiden, shows front-running ability, solid connections with Saez up.
Longshot Value Play: #6 Mortal Lock (6-1) George Weaver at 25% for the meet with Johnny Velazquez, has improved steadily with three second-place finishes, best turf distance record in field (8 starts, 2 places), and the 9-furlong Haggin trip clearly suits a closer who has been knocking on the door in every recent outing
