It’s been exactly one week since things really heated up at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, KY. The October meet opened Friday, October 5th and served up some hot temperatures and hotter stakes races. Fall Stars Weekend delivered 10 stakes races. Since then they have held another stakes as well. What has sire power meant to Keeneland’s racetrack so far and who may we expect to win this weekend’s stakes?
Opening day, Friday, October 5th, featured a card of 10 races with 2 stakes. The sires to the winners with the stakes name in parenthesis if applicable were: Point of Entry, Majestic Perfection, Distorted Humor, Flat Out, Uncle Mo, Congrats, Twirling Candy, Shackleford (Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes), Distorted Humor (Darley Alcibiades Stakes) and Paddy O’ Prado.
Day 2 hosted 11 races and 5 stakes. The sires of the winners included Point of Entry, Flower Alley, The Factor, Harlan’s Holiday, Tiznow, Kantharos (Woodford Stakes), Into Mischief (Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes), Mastercraftsman (First Lady Stakes) , Paynter (Claiborne Futurity Stakes), Archarcharch (Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes) and Lemon Drop Kid.
The weekend finished with 10 races including 3 stakes. Keeneland had winners sired by Paynter, Midnight Lute, Tapit, Into Mischief, Point of Entry, Violence (Indian Summer Stakes), Curlin (Dixiana Bourbon Stakes), Pure Prize (Juddmonte Spinster Stakes and Pioneerof the Nile.
Weekday races thus far were held Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday had one stakes race on its card of 8. The winning horses were sired by Street Sense, Jersey Town, Midnight Lute, Quality Road, Scat Daddy, First Defense, Twirling Candy (JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes) and Stroll.
Yesterday there were another 8 races . Sires of the winners included Street Sense, Court Vision, Colonel John, Kitten’s Joy, Double Irish, English Channel, Into Mischief, Will Take Charge, Creative Cause and Devil His Due.
Looking at this weekend’s stakes races, I have my eyes on some sire power. Friday, October 12th, race 9 posts at 5:30 PM ET. The G3, $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes of 5.5 furlongs for horse 3 year-olds and upwards field of 14 is as follows by post position/horse, sire, and morning-line odds:
- Miss Gossip – Big Bad Bob/30-1
- Con Te Partiro – Scat Daddy/15-1
- Belvoir Bay – Equiano/3-1
- Delectation – Delegator/12-1
- Country Chick – Country Day/50-1
- Mortica – Twirling Candy/6-1
- Girl’s Know Best – Caleb’s Posse/6-1
- Excessivespending – Shackleford/30-1
- Chanteline – Majesticperfection/5-1
- Aiken to Be – Aikenite/50-1
- Smiling Causeway – Giant’s Causeway/6-1
- Ruby Notion – Great Notion/5-1
- Brielle’s Appeal – English Channel/12-1
- Goldberry – War Chant/50-1
Scat Daddy, Twirling Candy and Shackleford have all sired big winners at this Keeneland meet so far. I wonder if they will play big into the Buffalo Trace Franklin county Stakes?
Saturday , October 13th will also feature a stakes in its 9th race that posts at 5:30 PM ET. The race is the G1 $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at 9 furlongs for 3 year-olds. The field is as follows:
- Nyaleti – Arch/5-1
- Princess Warrior – Midshipman/15-1
- Fatale Bere – Pedro the Great/5-1
- Daddy Is a Legend – Scat Daddy/6-1
- Mission Impassible – Galileo/6-1
- Secret Message – Hat Trick/12-1
- Capla Temptress – Lope de Vega/8-1
- Rushing Fall –More Than Ready/7-5
The Queen Elizabeth II has a Scat Daddy sired entry that I am sure to keep my eyes on. He has sired several of the winners in this Keeneland meet.
Finally, Sunday the 14th Keeneland will have 9 races though no graded stakes will take place again until 10/18 when the G3 Sycamore is raced.
I am just about to head out to Keeneland to watch the races. I hope everyone has a great weekend as we continue to see which sires, jockeys, owners and trainers come out on top this meet.
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