A field of nine that includes top-flight horses Shakis, Cosmonaut, and Art Master contest the Shadwell this year, the ninth race on Keeneland's Saturday card.

Shakis, Cosmonaut, and Art Master dominate all but one of the 12 categories we examine for each race.  Foreign invader Astronomer Royal, who hasn't won in his last three starts in Europe, leads the field in dollars earned per start with a figure of $78,757 -- roughly $30,000 dollars more than TD Vance.  Those two can't be total throwouts.  In fact, throwouts are pretty hard to come by in this race.  All but two horses in this field -- Independent George and Spotsgone --  have a price-to-speed figure number of under .200, indicating any of those seven could win the race.

Top Selection:  Cosmonaut (#7)

Julien Leparoux returns to the mount to ride for trainer Patrick Biancone .  Cosmonaut was a beaten-favorite 5th last out in the Bernard Baruch Handicap, a race that Shakis took by 3/4 of a length carrying just 116 pounds.  The Baruch was a 1 1/8 mile race, however, and we like Cosmonaut to return to winning form at a shorter distance with each horse carrying 126 pounds.  He's first in class rating in this field and has the highest turf speed figure of anyone here.

Also Like:  Shakis (#9), Art Master (#2), Istan (#6)

Shakis makes his first start at Keeneland for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.  His best Turf speed is second in this field and he's been in the money in two of three starts at this distance.  He's tops in speed average, class plus speed, and turf pedigree rating. 

Art Master ran 9th in a grade 1 last out, but finished only four lengths back in a race that included Shakespere and Kip Deville.  He's been in the money in three of four this year and seven of nine at the distance.  Also, he's fourth in early speed, and second in closing speed so he figures to be somewhere near the front at the end.

Istan steps up from a grade III in which a BRIS speed figure of 98 was good enough for 3 1/2 length victory over Spotsgone.  He won his race before that as well, a non-graded stakes, and both were at this distance.  Figures to be a horse for the course and one has to trust that trainer Bill Mott wouldn't have him here without a realistic chance to win.

Fear:  Astronomer Royal (#4), TD Vance (#1)

Astronomer Royal ran alongside the great George Washington last out in France, finishing7th,  8 3/4 lengths back.  Adds Lasix today and trainer Aidan O'Brien hits the board with 40 percent of his shippers to the US.  We have no numbers on this horse and experience has taught us not to ignore Europeans coming over for turf races, especially rather short ones.  Has the aforementioned money class, and is second in turf pedigree.

TD Vance is fourth in class plus speed, but just three points separate him from the top spot.  A threat considering that trainer H Graham Motion and jockey Ramon Dominguez have won 35 percent of their last 60 races as a combo, as well cashing in 59 percent of those starts -- the best trainer-jockey number in this field.