Strong Fayette renewal developing to close meet

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland has become known for front-loading its race meets. In the spring, many of the early stakes are preps for Kentucky Derby weekend; in the fall, they’re for the Breeders’ Cup.

But when the 2017 fall meet ends Saturday, one of the better races of the entire 17-day stand will take place in the form of the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette Stakes. Neolithic and Honorable Duty figure to vie for favoritism in a 1 1/8-mile race also expected to attract the standout 3-year-old McCraken in his debut against older horses.

Honorable Duty will seek to continue what has been a breakthrough year both for himself and his trainer, Brendan Walsh. The 5-year-old gelding had his final pre-race workout here Saturday when going five furlongs in 1:01.40 over a fast track.

“I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Walsh, who already has set career highs this year with 57 wins and nearly $3.2 million in stable earnings. “We kind of expected this race to come up as tough as it is, but our horse is doing great and we’re looking forward to it.”

Honorable Duty most recently was an easy winner of the Sept. 30 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs and has been first or second in each of his last six starts. He has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in three of his last four.

Entries were to be drawn Wednesday for the 60th Fayette, with the supporting cast expected to include The Player, Texas Chrome, Eagle, and Giuseppe the Great.

Tight race for top rider

With the final four-day stretch of the Keeneland fall meet starting Wednesday, there’s a free-for-all atop the jockey standings. Julien Leparoux, who has won or shared 11 riding titles here, held a tenuous lead with 13 winners through last weekend, followed closely by Florent Geroux (12), Ricardo Santana Jr. (12), and Robby Albarado (11).

Mike Maker, with two winners Saturday and another Sunday, has drawn clear top the trainer standings with 11 wins from a meet-high 48 starters. Maker’s top clients, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, share the lead atop the owners’ standings with John Oxley (four each).

Dry spell for the chalk

Until a filly named Elusive Truth won the seventh race Saturday at a $6 mutuel, favorites were defeated a remarkable 30 races in a row last week at Keeneland. The skein started after Petrov ($3.60) won the third race Oct. 18 and consisted of the last five races that day; all nine Thursday and all 10 Friday; and the first six Saturday.

◗ A one-day carryover of $8,596 is in the pick six jackpot when racing resumes Wednesday. A mandatory payout for Saturday will be in effect for the $1 pick six, and all jackpot wagers, because of the meet closing.