Major Fed will try tougher in Fayette Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A breakthrough year can only get better for Greg Foley when the veteran trainer sends out Major Fed in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes, the closing-day feature Saturday at Keeneland.

Foley runners already have earned more than $2.5 million this year, the highest annual total since he began training in 1981. Sconsin, Bango, and Yes It’s Ginger have combined for seven stakes wins, while Foley also had a Kentucky Derby starter for the second straight year when O Besos crossed under the wire fifth behind Medina Spirit on May 1.

Major Fed, 10th behind Authentic in September 2020 when becoming Foley’s first-ever Derby starter, has been conservatively managed this year in rallying to win his only two starts, both in allowance company at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Ghostzapper colt was expected among at least six 3-year-olds and up for the $200,000 Fayette, a 1 1/8-mile race that ends the Keeneland fall meet with its 64th running.

“This race is a good option to see if he can handle the next level of competition,” Foley said. “We got him through the allowance conditions, and even in those races, he didn’t have the best of trips but still was able to get the job done. He’s done everything right since his last race, so this is the next logical spot.”

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Major Fed will be tested, that’s for sure. He is expected to face Code of Honor, a $2.9 million earner in from New York for trainer Shug McGaughey, along with older divisional stalwarts such as Independence Hall, Night Ops, and Sleepy Eyes Todd. In addition, King Fury, an eye-catching 13-length winner of the Bourbon Trail last month at Churchill, will leave the 3-year-old ranks when meeting older horses for the first time.

The Fayette is part of a Saturday card co-featuring the $150,000 Bryan Station for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf and the $150,000 Bowman Hill for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

General admission is no longer available for Saturday. All four Saturdays at a 17-day meet that began Oct. 8 were sold out in accordance with Keeneland limiting ontrack crowds to about 20,000 amid the ongoing pandemic.