Fayette winner Independence Hall to stay in Kentucky, point to Clark

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Independence Hall earned a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure in his 7 1/4-length romp over a sloppy track Saturday in the closing-day Fayette Stakes at Keeneland.

Trainer Michael McCarthy confirmed Sunday from California that the 4-year-old Constitution colt will remain stabled at Churchill Downs with assistant Justin Curran, likely to point to the Clark on Nov. 26. The Grade 1 Clark also is expected to get Maxfield, Midnight Bourbon, and the Fayette runner-up, Code of Honor, along with maybe King Fury and a handful of others.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Independence Hall controlled the pace in leading throughout the Grade 2 Fayette for his first graded victory since he won the Grade 3 Nashua with a 101 Beyer nearly two years ago as a 2-year-old. His previous best was a 104 when third behind Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup in January. He is now 3 for 3 on off tracks.

Vincaia returns from layoff

The first five-day week of the dirt-only fall meet at Churchill begins with a 10-race Wednesday card featuring a couple of six-figure allowances. The nominal race-9 feature is a $134,000, second-level sprint that drew eight fillies and mares, including Vincaia who will be returning from a six-month layoff for Brad Cox following two spring victories.

:: Join DRF Bets and play the races with a $250 First Deposit Bonus. Click to learn more.

The earlier allowance (race 4), a $127,000, first-level race at seven furlongs, is headed by Flags Up, one of four 3-year-olds in a compact field of six.

Purses for all non-claiming/starter races include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.

◗ A couple of notable win streaks stayed intact during the waning days of the Keeneland fall meet as Beverly Park won for the seventh straight time Wednesday and Flat Awesome Jenny won her fifth straight Friday.