Live updates: Horse racing returns to Keeneland with record-setting Fall Meet

It’s time once again for the horse racing world to shift its attention to Keeneland in Lexington.

This weekend marks the start of the 2022 Keeneland Fall Meet, which will lead into the return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to the track for the third time on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5.

The Fall Meet will feature 22 stakes races worth a record $8.9 million during the 17-day meet.

It starts this weekend — known as Fall Stars Weekend — with 11 stakes races worth $5.45 million run across the opening Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the meet.

Of those 11 stakes races, nine of them are “win and you’re in” events for the Breeders’ Cup, with the winners receiving an automatic starting position and free entry into the corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup.

Below is an updating tracker of all the action from the opening weekend of Keeneland’s Fall Meet: The winners, the losers and the sights and sounds of a Lexington tradition.

Tracker lists the most recent news and races at the top

Annapolis wins richest race of Keeneland Fall Meet

Saturday 6:12 p.m.

The richest race in the 2022 Keeneland Fall Meet — the $1 million, Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile — was won by Annapolis, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Annapolis went off at 6-1 odds and pulled clear of the field after the turn for home on the Keeneland turf course.

The victory continues a strong start to the Fall Meet for both Pletcher and Ortiz: The duo also combined to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, the race right before the Turf Mile.

By winning the Turf Mile, Annapolis earns a fees-paid berth into the 39th running of the $2 million, Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, which will be run Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Two previous Turf Mile winners have gone on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile: Wise Dan in 2012 and Steinlen (GB) in 1989.

With the five stakes races slated for Saturday now complete, it’s time to look ahead to Sunday’s action at Keeneland.

The final day of opening weekend will feature a 10-race card, with three stakes races headlined by the $600,000, Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster.

All three stakes races Sunday are “win and you’re in” events for the Breeders’ Cup, with the winners receiving an automatic starting position and free entry into the corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup.

Forte is victorious in the Futurity

Saturday 5:36 p.m.

Trainer Todd Pletcher claimed his third win in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity with Forte, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Forte survived both a breakaway sprint to the finish against Loggins, who finished in second place by a neck, as well as a lengthy objection following the race. The objection didn’t change final order results.

Forte is now a winner in three of his four career starts, and earns a spot in the 39th running of the $2 million, Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to be run Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Forte will try and emulate five previous horses who won the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The last horse to accomplish this?

Essential Quality in 2020.

In Italian (GB) wins the First Lady, Keeneland burgoo review

Saturday 4:55 p.m.

Coming off a sterling summer in which she set a new course record at Saratoga, In Italian (GB) showed more speed Saturday in winning the $750,000, Grade 1 First Lady.

Ridden by Joel Rosario and trained by Chad Brown, In Italian held off another Chad Brown horse, Regal Glory, for the win.

Three winners of the First Lady have gone on to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, including another Chad Brown-trained horse, Dayatthespa, in 2014.

Ahead of the two feature races of the day, it’s also time for me to give my verdict on Keeneland burgoo.

This is good, hearty stew. We’re talking meat, vegetables, thick broth and just overall warmth. Bone-sticking food that, like the bread pudding and chili I had yesterday, goes well during the cooler temperatures of the Keeneland Fall Meet, although there is minimal chill in the air today.

If you like stew, this delivers.

Golden Pal, Slammed claim first two stakes races on Saturday

Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Golden Pal continued his impressive Keeneland form with a victory in the first stakes race held Saturday, the $350,000 Grade 2 Woodford.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Golden Pal is now undefeated in four Keeneland turf starts, all of them stakes races. In second place was Oceanic, who charged late to finish runner-up at the finish line in a valiant effort.

Golden Pal became the fifth different horse to win the Woodford in consecutive years as well, something last done by Bucchero in 2017-2018.

Golden Pal now boats victories at Keeneland in the Woodford (twice), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, and the Shakertown.

The second stakes race of the day — the $350,000, Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America — was won by Slammed.

Trained by Todd Fincher and ridden by Florent Geroux, Slammed has now won nine of 12 career starts.

The win gives Slammed a spot in the 16th running of the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to be run at Keeneland Nov. 5

Three horses have won the Thoroughbred Club of America and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, with the most recent being Groupie Doll in 2012.

Opening Saturday of Keeneland Fall Meet underway

Saturday 1:20 p.m.

Saturday’s 11-race card on opening weekend of the Keeneland Fall Meet is underway as the biggest races of the Fall Meet are set to be run today.

There are five stakes races on the card today, and three of them are “win and you’re in” events for the Breeders’ Cup, with the winners receiving an automatic starting position and free entry into the corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup.

So far, the Keeneland crowd is surprisingly small, especially by the standards set when the Kentucky football team has a home night game following the racing action.

The first stakes race of the day is the $350,000 Grade 2 Woodford, with a 3:38 p.m. post time as the sixth race on the card.

It should also be noted that the back-from-suspension Bob Baffert is the trainer for two horses entered in the $600,000, Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at 5:14 p.m.

Newgate (jockey is John Velazquez) and Carmel Road (jockey is Gerardo Corrales).

Until then, I will be completing my Keeneland food quest by trying the Keeneland burgoo. Review to come.

Opening Day of Keeneland Fall Meet concludes

Friday 6:22 p.m.

Friday’s 10-race card to begin the 2022 Keeneland Fall Meet has concluded, with Manny Wah, Delight and Wonder Wheel claiming the three big stakes race victories to earn a spot in next month’s Breeders’ Cup.

The racing action continues Saturday with an 11-race card that features five stakes races, highlighted by the $1 million, Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile with a 5:45 p.m. post time.

Also I will be eating the Keeneland burgoo tomorrow, so come back to read about that if nothing else.

You might also remember an earlier mention of the $25 I brought to Keeneland as well, and you might be curious what is left of it.

There is some left. That’s all you need to know.

Wonder Wheel wins the Grade 1, $500,000 Darley Alcibiades

Friday 5:39 p.m.

Trainer Mark Casse won his fourth Darley Alcibiades with Wonder Wheel, a filly ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Wonder Wheel closed at 4-1 and separated from the rest of the field at the turn for home, and held on to win by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile race on the main dirt course.

This marked Casse’s first Darley Alcibiades winner since Heavenly Love in 2017.

Wonder Wheel — which has now won three of four career starts — has qualified for the Grade 1, $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to be run Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

The official finishing order, which was finalized after an inquiry, was Wonder Wheel, Chop Chop, Xigera and Raging Sea.

Delight dazzles in the Grade 2, $350,000 Jessamine

Friday 4:58 p.m.

Delight, the 7-2 favorite, cruised to victory in the Grade 2, $350,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine to earn a spot in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to be run Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas and ridden by Luis Saez, Delight had past experience on the Keeneland turf course.

“We bought her in March and figured she would be a good, two-turn turf filly,” Thomas told Keeneland on Thursday morning.

While Delight finished third that day at Keeneland, she won by clear daylight on Friday afternoon with Knockyoursocksoff in second.

Friday’s performance marked two straight wins for Delight, who won her previous start as the 3-10 favorite Aug. 27 at Delaware Park in her third career start.

Next on the card is the richest race of opening day at Keeneland, the Grade 1, $500,000 Darley Alcibiades with a 5:16 p.m. post time.

Manny Wah takes the Grade 2, $350,000 Phoenix

Friday 4:25 p.m.

Manny Wah, a 17-1 longshot trained by Wayne Catalano and ridden by Corey Lanerie, used a massive finishing kick to win the Grade 2, $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix by a neck at the finish line.

Manny Wah went from last to first following the turn for home, finishing just ahead of former Kentucky Derby horse Long Range Toddy (a 19-1 longshot) in second and Top Gunner in third.

The race was a “Win and You’re In” event for the Grade 1, $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be run Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Next up on the card is the Grade 2, $350,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine with a 4:44 p.m. post time.

Stakes races to begin, Keeneland chili review

Friday 4:06 p.m.

All of the undercard races are now completed and it’s time for the real action to begin on opening day at the Keeneland Fall Meet.

The next three races will all be stakes races, and all of them will be “win and you’re in” qualifiers for the corresponding Breeders’ Cup races next month.

Up first is the Grade 2, $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, with a 4:12 p.m. post time.

The seventh of 10 races on the card today, the Phoenix will be six furlongs on the main track, and the race is a “win and you’re in” qualifier for the Grade 1, $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be run Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

But before the stakes racing begins, I followed the second of my friend Matt Stahl’s recommendations and grabbed some Keeneland chili.

Matt believes the chili is better than the Keeneland burgoo, which is on my eating list for tomorrow.

The chili is good and hearty, with solid flavor. It has beans. It’s not spicy. So if those are your chili preferences, then you will be thrilled with this.

Again, like the bread pudding, it’s a menu item that works better during the Fall Meet with cooler temperatures, but good chili frankly is always in season.

Longshot wins opening race, bread pudding delivers

Friday 1:40 p.m.

The opening race of the 2022 Keeneland Fall Meet was won by David’s Gem, a 15-1 longshot for breeder John Liviakis, owner Johnathan Ritter and trainer Ralph Martinez.

The victory came in a 7-furlong claiming race on the main dirt course that featured an exciting finish.

Following the race, I followed my friend Matt Stahl’s advice and made my first food purchase of the day, opting for the Keeneland bread pudding.

The doughy, soft and warm cake-like bread pairs exceptionally well with the custard-like sauce that it sits in, all nestled within a sturdy carrying vessel. This is well worth the $8 cost and should be part of every Keeneland trip you make, especially during the Fall Meet when it tends to be colder.

It is happiness.

Keeneland set to begin 2022 Fall Meet

Friday 12:20 p.m.

Welcome to opening day of the 2022 Keeneland Fall Meet.

Friday features a 10-race card running from an initial post time of 1 p.m. to a final post time of 5:48 p.m.

There are three stakes races on the card today: Grade 1, $500,000 Darley Alcibiades; Grade 2, $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix and the Grade 2, $350,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine.

All three races are “win and you’re in” qualifiers for corresponding Breeders’ Cup races next month.

Conditions are fast on the dirt course and firm on the turf course. It’s dry, partly sunny and with a hint of fall chill in the air.

Among the things to be covered in today’s live updates?

The on-track action from today’s three stakes races, what happens to the $25 I came to Keeneland with and a review of the best food items at Keeneland as recommended to me by former Herald-Leader intern Matt Stahl.