Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes At Keeneland A Wagering Paradise

Queen Elizabeth II winner Lush Lips is our top selection in a loaded Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 11

Lisa Brewer

For those looking for a speculating opportunity involving Thoroughbred racing, the grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland is an excellent opportunity. Run on turf at a mile and a sixteenth distance, this race for fillies and mares age four and up has become one of the preeminent races for girls on grass in the Spring. The Jenny Wiley Stakes has been graced with many of the top female turf runners from all over the world since its inception back in 1989. Last year, Choisya shipped from across the pond and garnered the winner’s glory for British-based trainer Simon Cransford. Native Mommy won the initial running as the purse was $50,000. The 2026 cast of ten talented females will be competing for their share of $650,000. With the Breeders’ Cup scheduled for Keeneland this fall, the importance level of this race is of course vastly increased. This year’s cast of contestants is filled with talent which should make for a highly competitive race and a spread of the wagering money. That can equate to a nice payout, especially for the exacta (top two finishers), trifecta (top three) and superfecta (top four) wagers. Let’s take a look at the entrants and provide a thought on each. The runners will be listed by post position with trainer, jockey and morning line. The Jenny Wiley is scheduled to be run on April 11 and is carded as race 9.

1 Expensive Queen (Brendan Walsh, Luis Saez 8-1)-Irish-bred daughter of Lope de Vega has won three of four starts on U.S. soil including her only start at Keeneland. Regarded as the “other” entrant for Walsh in this race, the jockey makes her a nice horse to play especially at this price.

2 Fast Market (John Terranova Samuel Marin 30-1)- Closed 2025 with a victory in the Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct, but has not raced since that win back on November 25. Big ask to begin the racing year in a race as stacked as this. Not likely this Market is Fast enough here.

3 Medoro (Peter Eurton, Juan Hernandez 13-1) West coast-based filly has run her last two races at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and enjoyed a win and a second in Stakes action. Overall, she has been uber-consistent with six wins and thirteen finishes in top three in fourteen lifetime starts. An across the board play for sure.

4 Pin Up Betty (Mike Maker, Joel Rosario 20-1)- Hard running veteran of the Kentucky circuit that has finished in top three in eleven of twenty career starts. Her last twelve starts have ben in Stakes company so she is battle tested. Not likely she is on the poster against this company.

5 Dynamic Pricing (Chad Brown, Irad Ortiz Jr. 6-1)-Last start for this Irish-bred was at Keeneland on October 4, 2025 when she finished seventh in the grade 1 First Lady Stakes. Four wins and four third place finishes in eleven Stakes starts tells us she is dangerous. That combined with jockey/trainer combo means put her in your superfecta.

6 Deep Satin (Cherie DeVaux, Brian Hernandez Jr. 20-1)-Daughter of American Pharoah has three wins and four seconds in ten lifetime starts. Has not raced since a fifth place finish at Del Mar on November 1, 2025. A rigorous test for first start of the year. Not likely she gets it done here.

7 Lush Lips (Bendan Walsh, Tyler Gafflione 5-2)-Deserving favorite that has won three in a row including Queen Elizabeth II here last fall. Has six wins and three seconds in last nine starts. A very tough race but we think she is the one here.

Destino d'Oro has won three races in a row and is a major player in the Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland

Lisa Brewer

8 Destino d’Oro (Brad Cox, Junior Alvarado 4-1)- Filly comes in in top form having won three in a row including Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf in January. Trainer has gotten off to a tremendous start in Spring Meet and this daughter of Bolt d’Oro is worth a real hard look here. Should be there at the end.

9 Aussie Girl (Will Walden, Ben Curtis 8-1)- Two stakes wins in last three starts means this Irish-bred might be finding her best stride. Defeated a big field at this distance at Tampa Bay downs in last start. Comes in right, but not our Crocodile Dundee.

10 Segesta (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat 7-2)-Won the grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on November 30, 2025 in her last start. Has a win and a second in two lifetime starts at Keeneland. Trainer is excellent at bringing runners back off a layoff and the jock is one of the best. Another logical choice in a loaded field.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com