Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland

Dave Bond

Las Vegas, NV -- The 15 day spring meet at Keeneland officially kicks off this Friday Aril 6th with the feature race being the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes. A field of seven three year olds will go 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland's turf course chasing a purse of $100,000.

While most of the hype surrounding three year olds has been concentrated on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, there are still a few horses that make their livings off the dirt - a few interesting prospects are on tap to race this weekend. The Transylvania is the ninth race on Keeneland's 10-race Friday card with post time scheduled for 5:13 PM.

Below is a breakdown of all seven entries and the recent results that brought them to opening day at Keeneland:

Transylvania Stakes Race Favorites

State of Play - was one of the leaders of last year's Juvenile Turf Division and is coming off a win at the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on synthetic Polytrack at Turfway Park on March 3rd. In five career starts State of Play has three wins but before the John Battaglia was a disappointing 7th in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on February 4th at Tampa Bay Downs and an equally disappointing 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Still, with wins at the Battaglia and the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes last year at Saratoga, State of Play is the most decorated horse in the field.

Transylvania Stakes betting at Keeneland with OffTrackBetting.com

Icon Ike - Broke maiden on December 9th and has won three straight races since including the Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds last time out on March 10th. Icon Ike has proven that grass is definitely his favorite surface - no better than third on dirt or synthetic versus three wins in three races on grass!

Remaining Field Entries

Silver Max - has eight career starts - three already in 2012 with two wins this year. Last time out Silver Max won a Starter Optional Claiming race in March 9th at Gulfstream by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths. Before that was a 5th in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and a string of five consecutive second place finishes.

Wayward Sailor - had a two race win streak (1 mile turf wins at Gulfstream) snapped by a disappointing ninth place finish in the Black Gold Stakes last time out on February 10th at Fair Grounds.

Travel Advisory - posted a win last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Fair Grounds on February 26th and before that was eighth and fourth in two similar races on the same track. In seven career starts Travel Advisory has two wins and two second place finishes - all against lesser competition.

Saturday Launch - also recorded a win last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream on March 11th. Before that was a pair of third and a pair of second place finishes.

Monastic - won an Allowance race at Churchill Downs in November and followed that up with a third place finish in similar race at Tampa Bay Downs. In October Monastic was a disappointing 10th at the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes on this track.


Transylvania Stakes Entries

Race 9 on Keeneland's Friday card with a Post Time of 5:13 PM.

Post Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 State of Play J. Velazquez H. Motion 3-1
2 Wayward Sailor A. Garcia M. Maker 12-1
3 Travel Advisory M. Cruz K. Gorder 10-1
4 Saturday Launch J. Castanon K. McPeek 6-1
5 Monastic J. Leparoux T. Proctor 5-2
6 Silver Max R. Albarado D. Romans 7-2
7 Icon Ike M. Mena J. Jones 7-2

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