Autumn Stakes – G3
$150.000 1 1/8 Miles Dirt
Three Year Olds And Upward
WO November 8, 2025
The nineteenth running of the Grade 3 Autumn Stakes has drawn a field of seven going nine furlongs on the dirt north of the border. With the excitement of the Breeders Cup a week behind us it would be easy to feel a little bit of a letdown after reaching that peak, but we soldier on. The Autumn Stakes, in its very name, reminds us that the season is not yet quite over but only moving towards that inevitable conclusion. Within its denouement there are still many battles to be fought and graded stakes glory to be won. Autumn can also give us some iffy weather. Saturday is predicted to be clear and the track fast but it is sandwiched between two days that are forecast to be very wet so although anything is possible, but we are looking at this race assuming a crisp sunny day.
1. Skeptic (Pablo Racing Inc/W.T. Buick) Lightly raced 4-year-old who has won four of his eleven starts. All four of his wins have been going long on the dirt with two of them on the free track circuit where he was also stakes placed. He has waded into pay stakes racing a few times and has managed to split the field before but has not yet hit the board. He does not show early speed in his past performances but draws inside and can stalk and get a trip if he is good enough.
2. Face The Lunatic (Martyparty/P. Husbands) You do not win $1,300.000 without having class and winning some big races. He was a multiple stakes winner coming into 2025 but had never won a graded event until he came home first in the KY Cup Classic G3 in March. He has not won since, but he has been running against the top horses in top races all year long and has run big but just not quite big enough. Still showing that he is fast in his works and a main contender.
3. El Gran Cambio (Bears Stable/P. Morales) The trainer claimed him for $10.000 two years ago and he has won three graded stakes races since then. He won the G3 Greenwood Cup in his last beating the likes of Spankersville. That race was at a mile and a half, and he might like that longer distance more but if he can get some pace to run at, he can’t be ignored. He is the only entrant to have weight added as a reward for that last win.
4. Gymnast (Noblepark/L. Salles) One of two three-year-olds in the field, he ventures out against older horses for the first time. He won two G3s against his age group this year (The Peter Pan at AQU and the Winn at CD) and just missed in last month’s ONT Derby. He has won five of his eleven starts and is working fast. There is no reason to think he will not carry over his good three-year-old form against older foes.
5. Everything For Sale (Night Rider Stables/E.J. Wilson) Won his last race by daylight but that was a $13.500 claiming race, so this is a significant jump up in class. Seems like optimistic placement but he has shown early speed, and this race doesn’t show anyone who consistently likes to go to the lead. Since that win he has a bullet 1:36 mile work at SA so his trainer must be really liking what he is seeing since that score. Has a light bulb gone off at age six? Intriguing.
6. Energizer Party (Robeth/M.Z. Buchanan) Another last out winner by multiple lengths and in a race that does not have obvious speed his wire to wire win where he opened up five lengths early does maybe portend a return to early career form where he won multiple graded stakes including the G2 Rebel and G2 Secretariat, Winner of over $1,200.000 he has moved back to dirt after being bought at auction for $11.120. He ran some good races for his new connections but did not find the winners circle until his last race which was the sixth race off of the claim. He has not raced since August. Did the new trainer find a key to his rejuvenation? Has continued to show speed in the morning but it is hard to trust him.
7. Knowledge Is Good (Mo Mentum Farm/D. Moran) The second three-year-old entrant in the race. This is his first attempt against older horses. He won the State bred NY Derby in July and has run well against open company. His last three races show consistency, and he ran a good second in the G3 OK Derby in his last. Knowledge is good but so is speed and he has the tactical early speed that seems to be lacking in most of the field, and he could gain a good position to stalk and pounce or maybe lead them all the way around.
This is a good field, but I think Face The Lunatic will like what seems like a little softer than he has been against all year and be able to return to the winner’s circle. Everything For Sale is taking a huge leap in class but his last win and his works since point to a new horse who has to be contended with. I’ll look towards Knowledge Is Good to hit the board against older as he seems to have gotten better since midsummer and is an improving three-year-old.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES