B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm has acquired a 50% ownership interest in graded stakes winner Keepmeinmind (Laoban). The 3-year-old colt was second behind Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and third behind that subsequent champion in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile before concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a win in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. He currently sits second on the GI Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 18 points.
“We are delighted to be a part of such an exciting young racehorse as Keepmeinmind, and thankful to Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith for the opportunity to join the team,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “We believe Keepmeinmind is poised for a big 3-year-old year. He demonstrated tremendous talent as a 2-year-old, placing twice in Grade Is, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and finishing up the year in style with a convincing win in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill.”
Campaigned by Cypress Creek LLC and Arnold Bennewith, Keepmeinmind is entered in next Saturday's GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds and will make his seasonal debut either there or in the Feb. 15 GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.
Trained by Robertino Diodoro, the bay colt is expected to work at Oaklawn Monday morning before a decision is made on his next start.
“There's a couple of variables,” Diodoro told the Oaklawn communications department on a decision between the two races. “I think we're going to wait and see the next 72 hours. The short field here is a little bit of a concern with his running style. If you've got a speed horse, like a couple of guys do in the race, perfect having five, six horses. But when you have a come from behinder, that's not the most ideal thing.”
Keepmeinmind recently breezed a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat (1/17) Feb. 2 at Oaklawn.
Autrey Bloodstock brokered the deal for Spendthrift to join the current ownership group.
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