Falling Sky faces just five in resurrected Lafayette Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Separated by four dark days that followed its 17-day fall meet, Keeneland will kick off the most highly anticipated week in its long history with a nine-race Thursday card.
Billed as “Prelude to the Cup,” the Thursday program will serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Breeders’ Cup cards that will be run here Friday and Saturday. First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.
The $100,000 Lafayette Stakes, which has not been run since 2008, is the highlight of the Prelude card. Formerly restricted to 2-year-olds (1937-81), then 3-year-olds (1982-2008), the Lafayette has been reincarnated as a seven-furlong race open to 3-year-olds and up.
Falling Sky, a four-time stakes winner, is the morning-line favorite among a field of six entered in the Lafayette. Julien Leparoux has the call aboard the 5-year-old horse for trainer Marty Wolfson.
One of his top challengers is Doubledown Again, claimed from his last start at Belmont Park by trainer Mike Maker on behalf of owner Michael Hui.
“We actually tried to claim him [for $62,500] from his previous start but got outshook by Phil Serpe,” said Maker. “So, when he was back in for $80,000, we claimed him with this particular race in mind.”
Post time for the Lafayette, the eighth race, is 4:24, with the final race going at 4:57. Three earlier allowances (races 4, 6, 7) also are on tap.
After early-week rain in the local area, the weather outlook for Thursday and beyond is encouraging, with dry conditions and high temperatures in the low 60s.
KEY CONTENDERS
Falling Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 95-83-97)
◗ This Pennsylvania-bred has been inconsistent for much of an 18-race career in which he has earned nearly $500,000, but he can be very tough with his best effort; he figures to be on or near the early lead in a race noticeably lacking in pace.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Falling Sky. Trainer Marty Wolfson is 17-0-3-2 over the past five years on dirt with Julien Leparoux aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Doubledown Again (Last 3 Beyers: 87-96-95)
◗ This sought-after gray sports Beyer Speed Figures that match up quite well with the opposition; he comes favorably drawn in the outside post, which should allow Mike Smith to take dead aim from just off the pace.
Midnight Cello (Last 3 Beyers: 75-93-100)
◗ That three-back triple-digit Beyer was earned when romping in the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup over Polytrack at Arlington in July, and his handful of dirt starts since being claimed by Mike Tomlinson have been just so-so; still, the ability is there.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Coastline. Trainer Michelle Lovell is 13-6-2-1 with a $7.63 ROI over the past two years on dirt in the first start following a claim Click for more details. – Mike Hogan