The Grade III Sycamore Stakes is one of the feature races at Keeneland on Friday, where the likes of Two Emmys and Kentucky Ghost battle.
Past champions include Holiday, Zulu Alpha, and Red Knight, so the Sycamore Stakes is a race worth putting in your calendar.
Horse racing odds are available for the wide-open betting field.
Grade I Winner has the Form
Two Emmys come off a win in the Grade I Mister D at Arlington Park, and that should be excellent form for the Sycamore Stakes.
The 5-year-old son of English Channel is bred to win races like this, and scoring your first career win at the highest level is a credit to this ability.
He went winless in his first six starts, but that did include placings in the Muniz Memorial and Arlington Stakes.
“This is a nice little horse. He just doesn’t get any respect.” The Mr. D. Stakes nee Arlington Million ends with an upset as Two Emmys prevails in fitting fashion: https://t.co/l6do9YNE69
— Alicia Hughes (@AHughesTVG) August 15, 2021
Trainer Mac Robertson said Two Emmys is loving life at Keeneland.
“He loves it here at Keeneland,” Robertson told BloodHorse. “There are not many friendlier places than Keeneland for horses. There is a lot of grass, so he can graze. He likes to run on it, and he likes to eat it.”
The sportsbook has Two Emmys at 3-1, which is a fair price given his exposed form. The progeny of English Channel has been winning races all around the U.S, so the favorite could be another grade winner on Friday.
Pick: Two Emmys
Kentucky Ghost Could Provide a Scare
Two Emmys’ bettors will need to be wary of Kentucky Ghost, who finished second in the TVG2 at Kentucky Downs last start.
The 4-year-old scored consecutive wins at Tampa Bay Downs and Churchill Downs earlier this year, before running fifth in the Grade II Wise Dan.
Despite the defeat, it was arguably his best effort. Finishing fifth behind the likes of Set Piece and Somelikeithotbrown isn’t a bad form guide, which is why bookmakers are respecting his chances.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see a steady flow of money come for Kentucky Ghost on race day.
Pick: Kentucky Ghost
Include Glynn County
On the second line of betting is Glynn County, who has more exposed form than most thoroughbreds in this race.
The Michael Maker-trained son of Kitten’s Joy scored an allowance-grade win at Keeneland in April, before running three solid races against top-level opposition.
He ran fifth in the Grade I United Nations behind Tribhuvan, before running third behind Two Emmys in the Mister D. Despite finishing behind the favorite, he can turn the tables at Keeneland.
He won his only start at Keeneland, so it’s a track he enjoys. His most recent effort in the Kentucky Turf Cup is a good form pointer, so the odds could be worth taking.
Having Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle is ideal, and he’s another runner we’re expecting to firm with betting online markets on race day.
Pick: Glynn County
Don’t Turn the Channel
Our fourth and final Sycamore Stakes is Spooky Channel. The son of English Channel has form in tough races, and as Halloween approaches, it could pay to include Spooky Channel.
The 6-year-old is a W. L. McKnight winner, and his form since has been tidy. He added solid performances in the Grade I Manhattan and Pan American Stakes.
Although only a three-time winner from 14 starts, we wouldn’t be leaving him out. He often pays generous odds with bookmakers, and that’s the case again at Keeneland.
Bettors do have to take him on trust, but it’s an open field, and we can see a minor upset happening.
