Mocito Rojo being considered for Fayette Stakes

Mocito Rojo could be headed back to Kentucky.

The Delta Downs-based horse, who won his fifth straight race in the Grade 3 Lukas Classic last month at Churchill Downs, is being considered for the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette on Oct. 26 at Keeneland, trainer Shane Wilson said Wednesday. He said Mocito Rojo also has the option of the $100,000 Delta Mile at home on Nov. 16.

“We’re going to think about the Delta Mile and if it’s not the Delta Mile we may go back up the country for the Fayette at Keeneland,” Wilson said. “It falls a week before the Breeders’ Cup. There may end up being a bunch of those horses going to the Breeders’ Cup. It might be a good-looking spot for us there. We’ll nominate and look at it, look at the numbers. If it looks like we don’t fit, we can stay here for the Delta Mile.”

Mocito Rojo won over 1 1/8 miles in the Lukas Classic on Sept. 28, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 97. It was his fifth straight stakes win in a streak launched in March at Delta. He is now 2 for 2 at 1 1/8 miles, with his other win at the distance coming in August in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park. In the Lukas Classic, the horse won by a neck after breaking from post 10.

“He got the trip he likes,” Wilson said. “He got to stalk them. It seems like he really likes the mile and an eighth now. He relaxes well, ran his highest Beyer Speed Figure.”

Mocito Rojo has since returned to Delta.

“He’s super,” Wilson said. “He came back great.”

Mocito Rojo races for Wayne T. Davis.