Favorite Tale set for comeback in Banjo Picker

Favorite Tale will make his second start since winning the Fabulous Strike Stakes at Penn National in November 2015 in the $100,000 Banjo Picker on Saturday at Parx. The Banjo Picker is one of five stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on the card.

The Fabulous Strike came on the heels of Favorite Tale’s gallant third-place finish from post 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. The top two finishers were Runhappy and Private Zone.

Favorite Tale, now 6, made only one start last year. He set the pace but weakened to third in a no-conditions allowance race at Parx, which Stallwalkin’ Dude won over El Deal. Favorite Tale, trained by Lupe Preciado, came out of that race with a knee chip that was surgically removed.

Preciado put Favorite Tale back in training last summer, but was not happy with how the gelded son of Tale of the Cat was doing and backed off.

“He wasn’t doing good, and we turned him out again,” Preciado said. “He needed more time.”

Preciado has worked Favorite Tale five times since July 11, including six furlongs in 1:11.80 from the gate Aug. 9 and a bullet 46.80-second half-mile last Saturday.

“He is doing everything easily,” Preciado said.

Favorite Tale has won 8 of 19 starts and $900,000. His wins include the Grade 2 Smile Sprint in 2015 at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Gallant Bob at Parx in 2014.