KENTUCKY — By Jessica Paquette

Handicapping “maiden” races can pose some unique challenges. Many of the contenders are so lightly raced that their body of work does not give too much insight and the maidens with the most experience, well, that can sometimes tell you all you need to know about their likelihood of earning that first win. At a certain point, horses will show you everything they are – and everything they are not.

Race 7 at Keeneland on Saturday is an interesting, full field of maidens and the race has come together as a wide open affair. Let’s take a look at a couple of key contenders that could surprise at big prices.

#1 Game Keeper (Opening Odds: 20-1)

With seven starts under his belt, he is beginning to have the trappings of a horse who could be a career maiden. However, he gets the ultimate equipment change for the first time – he has been gelded since his last start. For some young horses, gelding can help them focus more on the task at hand which is running races rather than letting hormones distract them.

He also gets a young, upstart rider aboard for the first time – Jaime Torres. Torres recently lost his apprentice allowance and is trying to make that next career step forward from a promising apprentice to a journeyman rider.

#3 Dissolved (Opening Odds: 10-1)

Though he has failed to leave much of an impression from two starts, he showed significant improvement from his debut effort to his second start and ran on well against what appears to be a competitive maiden race as both the runner-up and third-place finisher won at next asking. As that race develops into a key race, he may be the next in line to graduate.

#6 Ben Franklin (Opening Odds: 9-2)

In a maiden race, inexperience can be a feature. Horses all develop at their own pace and with young horses, significant improvement can be seen from their first start to their second. Ben Franklin raced greenly in his debut but late in the game appeared to have a “lightbulb” moment and showed some ability.

He is also doing something for the first time – stretching out from six furlongs to a distance race and off of his pedigree and the enthusiasm with which he finished last time, the added real estate may land him in the winner’s circle.

Photo: Keeneland | Coady Photography