Highly Motivated, Soup and Sandwich Race at Keeneland

Nearly a year since racing in the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, there is a reunion between two Derby competitors in a $120,000 allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland April 16.

Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated  and Live Oak Plantation's Soup and Sandwich  crossed the wire 10th and 19th, respectively, in last year's Run for the Roses, though each was moved up a position with the disqualification of Medina Spirit. The duo faces nine others in Saturday's 11th race at Keeneland, a seven-furlong sprint. The race is Highly Motivated's first start since the Derby, Soup and Sandwich's fourth post-Derby outing.

Highly Motivated is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. The Into Mischief   colt comes into Saturday's race off a series of workouts at Payson Park and Keeneland.

Flavien Prat rides.

Highly Motivated has experience at Keeneland, running second to champion Essential Quality   in the 2021 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2). The colt also set a track record for 6 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland when he took the Nyquist Stakes in 1:14.99 as a 2-year-old in 2020.

The Mark Casse-trained Soup and Sandwich, also by Into Mischief, was runner-up to Known Agenda   in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill' n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream Park last year. He ran third most recently against allowance optional claimers March 5 at Gulfstream.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez rides the 8-1 shot.