Keeneland: Fayette to see rematch of Kentucky Cup 1-2

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy is hoping to turn the tables on one of his elders Saturday when the Grade 2, $150,000 Fayette Stakes helps to close out the 17-day Keeneland fall meet. McCarthy, 77, will send out General Quarters in the 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race against Future Prospect, owned and trained by 78-year-old D.H. Skaggs.

Future Prospect and General Quarters were one-two in the showcase event of the Sept. 24 Kentucky Cup series at Turfway Park, the $200,000 WinStar Kentucky Cup.

“That was 1 1/16 miles, but we were getting to him,” McCarthy said Monday morning. “This one’s 1 1/8 miles, which is better for us. The horse is doing good.”

General Quarters, a 5-year-old horse, posted the richest victory of his career over the Keeneland Poly when taking the $750,000 Blue Grass in the spring of his 3-year-old year.

Other probables for the Fayette include Anak Nakal, Decisive Moment, Eighttofastocatch, Ioya Bigtime, Mission Impazible, Wise Dan, and Workin for Hops. Entries for the closing-day card will be drawn Wednesday.

Graham has three-win day

Jockey Jimmy Graham has had a productive fall at Keeneland, capped by the three-win day he enjoyed here Saturday. The victories came consecutively, aboard Lady Citron ($12.20) in the second, Lovesmelovesmenot ($9) in the third, and a late-October hunch play, Halloween Party ($6.60), in the fourth, yielding a $2 pick three payoff of $265.80.

Graham, like a number of jockeys who have ridden regularly at Keeneland, will ride at Churchill beyond Breeders’ Cup weekend before heading for the Fair Grounds meet that begins Nov. 24.

Through last weekend, Graham was third in the standings with 9 wins. Julien Leparoux appears well on his way to a seventh Keeneland riding title with 23 wins. Robby Albarado is second with 14.

◗ Applauding, the 2-year-old filly who set the Poly record for six furlongs in taking her Oct. 14 career debut in 1:07.76, will have her first work since then on Wednesday at Keeneland, said trainer Al Stall Jr. Applauding runs next in the Grade 1 Starlet on Dec. 10 at Hollywood Park.

◗ With no stakes until the Fayette on Saturday, the Thursday features at Keeneland are a pair of one-mile turf allowances, both for fillies and mares. They go as the sixth and eighth of a nine-race card.

◗ Among the notable arrivals here Monday was Uncle Mo, who came through the stable gate shortly before 10 a.m. Eastern following a flight from New York.