Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - February 26

Keeneland Select Derby Preps Hotlist
Friday, Feb. 26, 2021

By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

The $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial, Turfway Park

5th race – (4) Like the King was an impressive, front-running winner of his lone start over this track, and a positive experience over the surface is hugely important on synthetics. He’s also trained sharply over the track for Wesley Ward and may go gate-to-wire here. (1) Gretzky the Great is the class of the field, owning a Grade 1 win. Since turf horses usually handle the switch to an all-weather surface pretty well, he should be a major threat. (5) Kinetic Sky has only raced on dirt but he hails from a sharp barn and is worth a close look on a new surface. (11) Catman is a stakes winner on turf who has been disappointing lately, but the surface switch may lead to an improved effort. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta and trifecta box: 1-4-5-11.