Wednews and notes that are actually more about Thursday

From the it-was-fun-while-it-lasted department:

I managed to start the Keeneland Race Course spring meet on a terror April 2-3 but was soon humbled on April 7 when none of my top plays fired. I mean, I didn't even get a thrill as play after play failed to even threaten a visit to the winner's circle.

From the not-bad-for-a-Thursday department:

Is the Vinery Madison Stakes the only Grade 1 race regularly scheduled for a day that's not Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday? The Madison is always on Thursday. I know Saratoga does a lot with graded stakes each day it races, but a Grade 1 always on Thursday feels unique to me.

From the let's-see-if-weight-matters department:

Speaking of the Madison, champion Informed Decision spots her five rivals six pounds each in her five-year-old debut. It's not quite the weight champion Zenyatta conceded to her rivals in her six-year-old debut, but it's enough to at least be of note if she loses by a nose. The most likely challenge will come from Raydelz Stable's Witty, who is undefeated in four starts on SoCal synth. Witty beat Carlsbad by 1.5 lengths when receiving four pounds from that foe in the Railbird Stakes 11 months ago at Hollywood Park. Five months after that, Informed Decision beat Carlsbad by .75 lengths when giving four pounds to that rival, who has since died.

From the speaking-of-dead-horses department:

Nicanor, the younger (but not youngest) full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro makes his four-year-old debut Thursday at Keeneland and looks formidable as the controlling speed in the N2X for older horses on the grass. In retrospect, there is no shame in losing to Warrior's Reward and Custom for Carlos in his first two starts on dirt and the turf starts look powerful. Still, this is a tough bunch and Nicanor's connections (both equine and human) lend to him being overbet at least in the win pool.

From the I've-got-more-angles-than-a-dodecagon department:

Steve Davidowitz claimed in a Daily Racing Form (no link because it's behind a paywall) column that no bias existed on the Gulfstream Park turf course this year, but my cronies and I disagree, and we've been waiting for weeks for horses to ship to Keeneland in the hopes of cashing in on the closers who never really had a chance at GP. Both Thoroughbred Times senior staff writer Frank Angst and I had separate plays based on that angle Wednesday. Frank's won the fifth race at 6-to-1 while mine never ran a step as the 2-to-1 favorite in race seven. Nice job, Frank, who also caught the double that race using a 13-to-1 in the previous heat.

From the talk-to-you-later department:

Bye.