The Fayette (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
KEE- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
October 26, 2019

While most trainers in the BC are thinking more about their runners next weekend, we still have business to take care of this weekend with some pretty good races going on. At KEE, we will be treated to the 15th running of the Grade 2 Fayette and the starting gate will be mostly full with eleven going to post. Last year, the race was won by Chili King Stables and Royal Eclipse amd while that gelding has still run in some very good stakes, he has not won since. J R Leparoux was aboard and will actually be looking for his third straight win in the virtual saddle. Let’s meet his mount and the rest of the field!

#1- Malibu Moon (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J Bravo)- Won his graded debut over the summer, taking the Grade 3 Affirmed at SA. Since then, he has had a harder time finding more success at this level, with two well off the board results. There is an allowance win mixed in, and the key for him might be to be closer to the front early on.

#2- Glitter Diety (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- You may remember seeing him in the KYD in May, but since his 13th place finish there, he has not been near Grade 1’s. The depth of the trainer’s stable means he could find a niche for himself in this type of race, and he recently ran second in the Grade 3 Super Derby at LAD.

#3- Undefeated Season (Night Rider Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Picked up for a $32.000 claiming tag in April, Undefeated Season won his debut with Night Rider in a starter allowance, extending his undefeated streak to four races. Must win here to live up to his name for 2019, something that is still possible. But this is the Super Bowl compared to the type of races he has been in previously.

#4- Market Value (Nakamura Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- Began the year winning an allowance at PM, and since then his stock price has only skyrocketed. About two months ago, he ran second in the Grade 3 BC Derby, missing out in a tight photo. He’s not a stake winner yet, but is on the verge of doing so. Likely to be in the mix, and with a good trip on the front, which is where he seems to like it, anything is possible.

#5- Charlemagnes Command (John Henry, ridden by C J Lanerie)- Has been running well in his last three races, and that includes a win in the LA (Los Alamitos, not the KYD Prep) Derby (Grade 3). He nearly went back to back about two months ago, placing second in a close photo at the Grade 3 Jones Stakes. Seems to be on his best form right now, and has good experience running at this level.

#6- Crystal Speed (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by G Saez)- The last time we saw him was last month in the Grade 1 PA Derby, and being the early leader in that race. He held on near the front for a while, though eventually dropped back to the middle of the field. Fortunately for him, this is not the PA Derby, and a similar race likely sees an in the money finish. He’s also been known to come from off the pace, so there is uncertainty on how he will go about this.

#7- Sport Guide (Estero Farms, ridden by T Gaffalione)- While his three year old season did see him run in the KYD, and finish 16th, the only bright spot to his year so far was when he ran third in the AR Derby. He has not been in the money since. To his credit, the trainer has not dropped him down in class to any easier races for a confidence boost but Sport Guide still has been finishing closer to the back then to the front. Hard to pick him due to that.

#8- Cannes Farley (RNP Stables, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- The four year old gelding will be making the 21st start of his career and will be hoping it can result in his first stake win. That is not from a lack of trying, as Cannes Farley has been a regular in ungraded stakes and has a handful of second place runs to show for them. He should be in the mix again, but winning will be more difficult.

#9- Ete Crack (Gdp Inc, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- After finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Dandy at the Spa, Ete Crack went wire to wire last month to win the $75.000 Good Magic Mile at MTH. Sure, that’s a class drop but a win is a win. Prior to the Dandy, he ran second in the OH Derby, and this race gets my attention due to the quality of opposition that he faced there. The Dandy is the only recent dud, and it should be noted that the trainer did not give him bute before that race. With it back for the Good Magic Mile, he was again strong. We’re sure he’ll remember that this time.

#10- Bad Bad Boy (Waldo, ridden by J R Leparoux)- Leparoux looks for his third straight win in the stake, and the trainer hopes that he can make the difference in making this horse successful at the stake level. He was sent from claimers right to graded stakes, but the results have not been all that great. This includes even trying the Travers, where he was a non factor. Does he belong at this level? It’s time to show it.

#11- Rotten Apple (Nakamura Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- Finally, we get to this runner who will be making his first start in almost three months. The last time we saw him out on the track was the WV Governors Stakes, a $200.000 Grade 3 that he won, and it ended up being his third win in four starts. Despite the streak, he’s been resting it up, so hopefully he can get right back to being on that form.

Prediction: 9-5-3-11

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES