Henley's Joy Returns to Turf in Transylvania

Sophomore turf horses star in Keeneland's April 5 feature, the $150,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) run at 1 1/16 miles. Bloom Racing Stable's Henley's Joy tops the field of 11 and returns to the grass after his first dirt attempt in the Feb. 16 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2).

The consistent Henley's Joy has missed being part of an exacta only twice in seven starts and was 10th last out in the Risen Star. His turf résumé is boosted by wins in the Sept. 1 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes and the Dec. 8 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He was narrowly defeated at Keeneland Oct. 7 in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T).

Jeff Bloom, managing director of Bloom Racing Stable, said Henley's Joy has been training well since the Risen Star and hopes the Transylvania sets the Kitten's Joy  colt up for a big season.

"There's so much in the way of lucrative race options for horses on the turf nowadays," Bloom said. "He's clearly shown he has the ability to run with the best of them on the grass, so we have high expectations and we know he's performed well over the Keeneland surface having run in the Bourbon so well, just missing by a nose. This really works out well to kick start things for us for his campaign this summer."

Trainer David Fawkes brings in Sandra New's Louder Than Bombs, a Violence  colt who picked up a black-type win when he rallied in the Sept. 29 Armed Forces Stakes over Gulfstream Park's turf. He placed in three other grass stakes, including a third behind Henley's Joy in the Pulpit.

"He is a high-energy horse and full of life. We had a choice of the (Cutler Bay) stakes last Saturday at Gulfstream or here," Fawkes said. "He needs them to back up, and I thought there was a better chance of that here."

After the Transylvania, Fawkes said Louder Than Bombs will either remain at Keeneland or ship to Churchill Downs for the $400,000 American Turf Stakes (G2) run May 4, Kentucky Derby Day.

Ivan Dalos' Avie's Flatter makes his 3-year-old debut in the Transylvania. Trainer Josie Carroll sent the Flatter  colt out for back-to-back scores at Woodbine in the Oct. 7 Cup and Saucer Stakes on turf and the Nov. 18 Coronation Futurity over the Tapeta.

The Black Album, Onthewaytonevrland, Go Away, Weekly Call, Dunph, War Film, Hawaiian Noises, and Life Mission complete the field. Hawaiian Noises is cross-entered April 4 in the $100,000 Palisades Turf Sprint Stakes. 

Entries: Kentucky Utilities Transylvania S. (G3T)

Keeneland, Friday, April 05, 2019, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $150,000
• 3 yo
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1The Black Album (FR)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Rodolphe Brisset	10/1
2	2Onthewaytonevrland (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	118	Wesley A. Ward	7/2
3	3Go Away (KY)	Feargal Lynch	118	Eddie Kenneally	30/1
4	4Avie's Flatter (ON)	Javier Castellano	120	Josie Carroll	7/2
5	5Weekly Call (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
6	6Dunph (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Michael J. Maker	12/1
7	7Louder Than Bombs (KY)	Luis Saez	120	David Fawkes	8/1
8	8War Film (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Steven M. Asmussen	10/1
9	9Hawaiian Noises (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	118	Wesley A. Ward	12/1
10	10Henley's Joy (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Michael J. Maker	3/1
11	11Life Mission (KY)	James Graham	118	Ben Colebrook	10/1