Madison Stakes at Keeneland Race Course

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 1 Madison Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, April 13 from a very busy Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky as part of the Blue Grass Stakes undercard. A group of fillies and mares four years old and upward will dash seven furlongs on Keeneland’s all weather track as they try to secure the winner’s portion of the $300,000 purse.

A field of 10 females has been confirmed for the Madison Stakes – race 8 on Keeneland’s Saturday schedule with just two graded stakes winners. Post time is 4:35 PM. Let’s take a glance into the credentials of all 10 combatants for this Grade 1 stakes.

Fantasy of Flight – Richard Dutrow filly had a very nice 9 3/4 length win in an Optional Claiming race in October after a less-than-impressive ninth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs way back in May. She was a pedestrian fifth in the Grade 2 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct November 23 and followed that with a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream January 12. Last time out was perhaps her best career result – a second in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream February 10. She is a tepid morning line favorite in the Madison based on her strong performance last time out.

Byrama – was decent in 2012 with three wins, three seconds and two third place finishes in 10 starts. She was a decent third as favorite in the Grade 3 Ken Maddy Stakes October 20 behind Broken Dreams and Kindle to follow a win in the minor Unzip Me Stakes September 29 and a second in the C.E.R.F Stakes September 5. She also had a win in the Manhattan Beach Stakes at Hollywood Park to follow a third in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes and a second in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes on April 7. Last time out was an OK third in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita after another third as favorite in the minor Wishing Well Stakes February 10 after a disappointing fourth in the competitive Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes January 6. Byrama has five straight starts at Santa Anita – hopes are that a change of venue and a just her second start on synthetic will change her fortunes just a little bit!

Shumoos – Group III winner in England returned January 25 to a 2 1/2 length win in an Allowance Optional Claiming after 14 months away from racing. In her North American debut in 2011, she was an impressive second in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint – a race that launched her into relevance here in America. Last time out was a decent third in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita March 10 in her second start since November 2011.

Holiday for Kitten – has only two starts last year – a second in the Shakespeare Caress Stakes at Saratoga and a distant eleventh in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters September 8 – she has been out of action since. She finished 2011 with an Allowance score at Gulfstream and did win the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes in October 2011 so we know that she can produce good results in big races. But a combination of a long layoff and a poor result last time we saw her may make Holiday for Kitten tough to trust in the Madison.

Jamaican Smoke – has five career starts with two wins – an Allowance at Churchill Downs on May 25 followed a Maiden Special Weight score at Keeneland on April 19. She was a very impressive second in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park in July and then endured an eight month layoff. He returned March 8 to a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream March 8.

Madison Stakes betting at Keeneland Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Queens Award – has 22 starts with four wins but Saturday marks her first graded stakes start. She is coming off a fourth in the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream February 24 after an eighth in the minor Lightning City Stakes at Tampa Bay January 26. She had a pair of seconds to end 2012 including the Holiday Inaugural Stakes December 1 and had an Allowance score at Keeneland in October. She has been OK against lesser competition – now is time for a huge step up in competition. She did well on this track last fall and will be looking to find that form again Saturday.

Dr. Diamonds Prize – had an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Keeneland last April 6 and followed that with a good second in the Grade 2 Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine in May. She was third in the Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs in June and then took nine months off. She returned March 15 to a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Oaklawn Park.

Kune Kune – British bred filly had two wins in six starts in England including her last start there. Since arriving in North America she has three Allowance starts and two wins including last time out February 20 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Last Full Measure – enters the Madison off a distant ninth in the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs March 9 after a pair of decent thirds in a pair of Grade 3 races – the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs November 10 and the Endeavor Stakes behind Old Tune February 2. Before that was an Allowance score at Keeneland October 14. She has 10 career starts with three wins, a second and three third place finishes.

Drama Drama – finished a respectable third in her stakes debut in the Hatoof Stakes and followed that with an Allowance score at Kentucky Downs September 12 In October she raced to a very respectable third in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland but followed that with a fourth in the minor Pago Hop Stakes in October. Saturday mark’s Drama Drama’s 2013 debut.

Race 8 on Keeneland Race Course’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:35 PM.