Tom's d'Etat splashes to victory in Fayette Stakes

Tom’s d’Etat finally got the best of Mr Freeze after turning for home when splashing away to a 4 1/4-length triumph in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette Stakes as Keeneland wrapped up its 17-day fall meet Saturday.

Giving jockey Joel Rosario his fourth victory of the day, Tom’s d’Etat returned $5 as favorite in a field of nine older horses after finishing the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:49.17 over a sloppy track.

Tom’s d’Etat, trained by Al Stall Jr. for the GMB Racing of Gayle Benson, now has won eight of 15 career starts.

“I sent him a little bit there and he kept up with the other horse,” said Rosario, referring to the speedy Mr Freeze. “When I asked him to go, he kept giving it to me.”

Stall said the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs is the next likely start for the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred horse by Smart Strike.

Tom’s d’Etat, relatively lightly raced, “has been sound the last 18 months or so,” said Stall. “He’s made us be patient with him over the years. He’s had a little of this and that go wrong, nothing earth-shattering, but we always thought he was the right kind of horse.”

Mr Freeze ran on well to be a clear second, another 3 1/4 lengths before the 5-2 choice, Bal Harbour, in third.

The $2 exacta (3-2) paid $24.60, the $1 trifecta (3-2-8) returned $39.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (3-2-8-9) was worth $25.68.

Churchill Downs in Louisville begins a 26-day fall meet Sunday with an 11-race Stars of Tomorrow card.