Keeneland Picks: Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes (10/2/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Fri Oct 02, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 7 minutes
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Keeneland picks are here for a 10-race card topped by the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes. Below you will find full Keeneland picks and analysis for every race on the October 2, 2026 program, including a best bet, a live longshot and suggested wagers for each event.
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Keeneland Full Card Analysis
Keeneland: Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes (10/2/2026)
Keeneland Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:00 PM CT; Starter Allowance $30k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.
- #11 BELLE OFTHE DANCE (8-1): Major Player. Consistently runs above the level it faces. Top connections on the circuit with Torres and Santamaria.
- #3 NOROOMFORMISCHIEF (9-2): Major Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Figures fit comfortably at this level.
- #8 QUEEN OF QUEENS (3-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Sharp and Ortiz team up, and that combination wins its share.
- #9 EPIC PRANKSTER (12-1): Contender. Numbers grade out better than the raw figures suggest. Outruns the class par more often than not.
Selections: 11 – 3 – 8 – 9
The Plays
Win: #11 at 5-2
Pick 3 (Races 1-3): #11,3 with #1 with #3,7,2
Trifecta: 11,3 / 11,3,8,9 / 11,3,8,9
Keeneland Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 12:32 PM CT; Claiming $16k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #1 NATIONAL ECLIPSE (5-2): Best Bet of the Card. Record over this surface and trip stands out. Strong connections with Kenneally sending out Ortiz. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #4 MENA (4-1): Major Player. Has handled this exact setup before. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
- #9 STOLEN POWER (8-1): Contender. Runs better than the bare figures indicate once class is factored in. Has been exceeding what the level demands.
- #7 MANFREDI (3-1): Contender. Meaningful class relief today. The 91 speed rating is among the top in the group.
Selections: 1 – 4 – 9 – 7
The Plays
Win: #1 at 8-5
Exacta: 1 / 4,9
Keeneland Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:04 PM CT; Allowance $120k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #3 VELVET BERETTA (20-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Competitive in the same class recently. Best late pace figure in the field at 84. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #7 VIRABHADRASANA (1-1): Major Player. Has been facing this kind and holding its own. Speed numbers are right there with the top group.
- #2 SEASIDE STARTUP (7-2): Contender. Recent form lines measure up to these. Brown has the barn rolling and keeps Prat aboard.
- #4 MASTER QUEEN (10-1): Contender. No class question at this level. Has the numbers to be involved late.
Selections: 3 – 7 – 2 – 4
The Plays
Win: #3 at 7-2
Trifecta: 3,7 / 3,7,2,4 / 3,7,2,4
Keeneland Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 1:36 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.
- #5 FAST GUN (4-1): Major Player. Belongs on class and should be in the mix. Quick enough to matter in the closing stages.
- #4 SHEWONTBUDGE (6-1): Major Player. Has been knocking on the door in similar spots. Form lines read well against this group.
- #12 STAGED (9-2): Contender. The work tab reads like a horse ready to run, not one being educated. The Mott barn strikes at a healthy clip in this spot.
- #2 HATHAWAY (20-1): Contender. The barn wins with first-time starters at a rate that demands respect. Has been drilling steadily into the debut.
Selections: 5 – 4 – 12 – 2
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-2
Trifecta: 5,4 / 5,4,12,2 / 5,4,12,2
Keeneland Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:08 PM CT; Allowance $140k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.
- #12 LAIGINA (5-1): Major Player. Has won at a higher level than this. Numbers are competitive with anything else entered.
- #4 SHOULD'VE (12-1): Major Player. Consistent enough to be a factor at this level. Hazlewood takes the mount for Ward, which is worth noting.
- #10 LIGHT WON UP (9-2): Contender. Improving with each start.
- #2 LA PUMA (8-1): Contender. Figures have climbed in three straight.
Selections: 12 – 4 – 10 – 2
The Plays
Win: #12 at 5-2
Exacta: 12 / 4,10
Keeneland Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 2:40 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $110k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #7 REDMOOR (15-1): Major Player. Serious work pattern behind this first start. Connections are as strong as any in the race.
- #4 SALTWATER SOUL (12-1): Major Player. The morning line of works shows a horse wound up for the opener. Enough recorded works to trust the fitness.
- #2 GENERAL JACK (6-1): Contender. Bred to be effective on this surface right away. The page says this one should handle the trip first time out.
- #3 KINGSIDE (7-2): Contender. Pedigree ratings support an immediate run. Family suggests precocity at this distance.
Selections: 7 – 4 – 2 – 3
The Plays
Win: #7 at 5-2
Trifecta: 7,4 / 7,4,2,3 / 7,4,2,3
Keeneland Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:12 PM CT; Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes $400k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.
- #4 VERIFIRE (5-2): Major Player. Course and distance record is the strongest here.
- #8 HYMN (4-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Closing kick is the strongest of this group.
- #6 VIKING (8-1): Contender. Distance change should suit.
- #3 LITTLE THUNDER (15-1): Contender. Clearly moving forward off the last two.
Selections: 4 – 8 – 6 – 3
The Plays
Win: #4 at 5-2
Trifecta: 4,8 / 4,8,6,3 / 4,8,6,3
Keeneland Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 3:44 PM CT; Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes $400k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.
- #5 SENECA PARK (9-2): Major Player. Beaten better than these in the past.
- #11 ELEGANTE MIZ (8-1): Major Player. Figures fit comfortably at this level.
- #12 MIGHTILY (15-1): Contender. Competitive in the same class recently.
- #8 LUCKY BERNADINE (9-2): Contender. Consistently runs above the level it faces.
Selections: 5 – 11 – 12 – 8
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-2
Trifecta: 5,11 / 5,11,12,8 / 5,11,12,8
Keeneland Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:16 PM CT; Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes $650k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #5 SUMMER STARLET (4-5): Major Player. Bred to handle the added ground. Finishes better than anything else entered.
- #6 FOREVER CARINA (9-2): Major Player. Cutting back should sharpen this one up.
- #1 EMPHATIC (4-1): Contender. Has been facing this kind and holding its own.
- #8 ELEWENE (15-1): Contender. Numbers grade out better than the raw figures suggest.
Selections: 5 – 6 – 1 – 8
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-2
Trifecta: 5,6 / 5,6,1,8 / 5,6,1,8
Keeneland Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 4:48 PM CT; Allowance $120k; 1 3/16 M Turf; Field of 14 runners.
- #11 DOCTRINE (4-1): Major Player. Knows the surface and the trip, which counts for plenty.
- #12 THE BRIGADE (3-1): Major Player. Has done its best running under these exact conditions.
- #9 LAZLO (5-1): Contender. On a steady upward trend.
- #7 MY BOY TONY (8-1): Contender. Drops to a level that should suit.
Selections: 11 – 12 – 9 – 7
The Plays
Win: #11 at 5-2
Trifecta: 11,12 / 11,12,9,7 / 11,12,9,7
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Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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