OffTrackBetting.com - Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky opens for action this Friday, April 8. The first graded stakes action of the season will take place on that day - the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select will go down on Keeneland's turf track. Three year olds will be after the winner's share of the $100,000 purse when they saddle up and go 1 1/16 miles.

A field of nine have been confirmed for the Transylvania Stakes - race 9 on Keeneland's opening day Friday schedule. Post time is 5:30 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all nine combatants for this Friday graded stakes race.

2016 Transylvania Stakes Race Preview at Keeneland Race Course

Converge - Chad Brown trained colt has placed in all three career starts. Last time out was a terrific win at this distance in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream February 27 which followed a decent runner-up finish n the minor Awad Stakes at Belmont Park October 30 and a maiden score at first asking - September 19 also at Belmont Park. Converge has been impressive so far and hopes to keep the roll going Friday from post 7 with Javier Castellano guiding the 123 pound co-highweight.

Shakhimat - has two wins and a third place finish in three career starts for trainer Roger Attfield - all at Woodbine and is one of the early favorites for the Queen's Plate on that same track this summer. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a career best effort - an incredible 9 3/4 length win in the minor Coronation Futurity November 8 which followed a runner-up finish in the minor Cup and Saucer Stakes October 11 and a maiden score at first asking in September. Shakhimat has been in every race so far and looks ready for his step up in competition. Emma-Jayne Wilson gets the call from gate 2.

Bet Keeneland Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

J R's Holiday - has nine starts already for trainer Jose Garoffalo with three wins, a second and a third place finish. He has won three of his last five starts ahead of this weekend since switching to turf- the minor $100,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes January 30, an Allowance Optional Claiming December 13 and a maiden score in September - all results at Gulfstream. He made his graded stakes debut last time out and finished an OK fourth in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream February 27. J R's Holiday has placed in four of his last five starts overall and will be after his first stakes score from post 5 Friday. Emisael Jamarillo has the mount on the other co-highweight from post 5.

One Mean Man - has nine career starts for trainer Bernard Flint with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He made his stakes debut back in October and finished twelfth in the Grade 3 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes on this track and has placed in three of six starts since. Last time out was an OK second in the minor Black Gold Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds February 27 after a good win in the minor Keith Gee Memorial January 31 and consecutive fourths in Allowance Optional Claiming races this past summer. He chases his first stakes score from the outside post 9 Friday with Francisco Torres guiding him.

Sorryaboutnothing - will hit the track for the fifth time for trainer Doug O'Neill. He enters off a an OK third in the minor Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita March 13 which followed an eighth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on that track January 7 and a disappointing seventh in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity December 19. He also recorded a fortunate maiden score thanks to a DQ November 15 at Del Mar and a fourth in his debut on that same track November 7. Sorryaboutnothing hadn't looked great before an OK effort last time out. He hopes to make a little noise Friday from gate 6 with Corey Lanerie in the reins.

Catapult - will hit the track for just the second time for trainer Chad Brown. His first effort was a good one - a maiden score at Belmont Park October 18. He hopes to make it 2-for-2 in his first race in six months Friday when he leaves from gate 8 with Julien Leparoux in the irons.

Inspector Lynley - has four career starts for trainer Shug McGaughey with a win and two second place finishes. He makes his stakes debut Friday having improved every time out. He debuted with a fourth in October and followed it with consecutive runner-up finishes in MSW races this past winter. Last time he finally broke maiden - at Gulfstream Park February 6. Inspector Lynley looks for a major breakthrough Friday when he leaves from the rail with Florent Geroux aboard.

Urban Bourbon - has been OK in his seven career starts for trainer Eddie Kenneally - a win, two seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was a career worst effort however - an eleventh in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream park February 27. It followed a respectable third in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Dania Beach January 2, a maiden score in his fifth career start, and consecutive runner-up finishes. Urban Bourbon will be looking for a bounceback effort after an ugly performance last time out. Joe Bravo has been tabbed to ride from gate 4.

Prime Time Man - has just one win in five career starts for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and has failed to place in the other four. Last time out was a seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Oaklawn Park March 5 after breaking maiden at Fair Grounds January 16 and an eighth in a MSW at Churchill Downs November 28. He hasn't been great so far - not a whole lot is expected from post 3. John Velazquez rides.

---

2016 Transylvania Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Keeneland's Friday card with a Post Time of 5:30 PM.