Gaffalione, Saez atop jockey standings

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tyler Gaffalione and Luis Saez enter the final four-day stretch of the Keeneland fall meet in a tight battle for leading jockey. Gaffalione, who swept all three stakes here last weekend, holds a 14-13 lead over Saez, who topped the standings with 29 wins when he last rode a full meet here in spring 2021.

The top jockey for bettors clearly has been James Graham, whose six wins from 29 mounts have amounted to a meet-leading $7.29 ROI for each $2 win wager (10-mount minimum). Graham, a former leading rider at Fair Grounds and Arlington Park, had four winners last week – all of them in turf allowances – with such big-priced winners as Fancy Martini (54-1), Aboukir Bay (21-1), and Touch of Class (13-1).

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Atop the trainers’ race, Todd Pletcher brings a 9-7 edge over Brad Cox into the final week. Pletcher has won or tied for leading trainer at Keeneland five times, the latest at the 2018 fall meet.

◗ All-sources handle at Keeneland continues at a record pace. Through Sunday, the 13th of 17 days, wagering totaled more than $165.2 million, up 14.2 percent over the same period last fall, when the current record was established. Field size is averaging 9.35 starters per race, with still not a single turf race having to be transferred to the main track amid ideal weather. Favorites are winning at a 35 percent clip (44 of 124).

◗ Anybody remember seeing a 13-13 daily double hit? Didn’t think so.

That was the case Sunday at Keeneland when Street Ready and Happy Is a Choice, both drawn in off also-eligibles lists as No. 13, won races 5 and 6, combining for a $2 daily double worth $160.40. In fact, the No. 13 saddletowel was unusually hot last week, as Ten Days Later and Trademark both won wearing it Thursday as drawn-in also-eligibles.

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