Keeneland Wednesday

In the 7th (of only eight races) at Keeneland today, War Dancer (6-1) moves up to face winners off a handy maiden win at Gulfstream, for trainer Ken McPeek.  Don't know if he faced much - three single-digit contenders went down early in a spill - and he had a pretty perfect trip.  But he won pretty handily, responding promptly to a couple of smacks and gliding home in a snappy 11 4/5; final three-eighths in 35 flat.  (Does anyone really care about the hundredths of a second?  Most overrated "innovation" in the past performances industry as far as I'm concerned.)  His prior turf effort, coming in his career debut, was a good second to Jack Milton, who went on to win the G3 Transylvania on opening day; and that race has produced a couple of other next-out winners as well.  Draws the rail, and the speed figures I'm using these days give him a distinct advantage over these.  Expect a good effort and his morning line would represent good value here.  Beyond Compare (4-1) also comes in off a maiden win (at 2-5), at Tampa, where he got loose on the lead after setting slow fractions.  If his pedigree is any indication, he's eligible to improve; he's a Tapit half-brother to the graded turf stakes winner Dancing Solo; and his dam, by Kingmambo, is a half to the excellent turf mare Voodoo Dancer.  Fredericksburg (8-1) showed promise in NY at two, and ran evenly in a competitive allowance field in his first turf race this year; third try of the form cycle for trainer Michael Matz.  Standing against morning line favorite Positively (7-2) in his first try on turf, but worth mentioning that he hails from an excellent French distaff line.

- He's back. And some politicians who have done worse have never left.

He is quoted recounting what people say to him on the subway.

“It’s one of the following,” he said: “1) ‘Oh, you should run.’ 2) ‘Man, you got screwed.’ 3) ‘Aww, I’m so sorry what happened to you.’ 4) ‘Spitzer! You’re Governor Spitzer!’ ” [NY Times]