The Fayette (Grade 2)- $350.000 Purse
KEE- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
October 26, 2024

The highlight of Saturday’s action at KEE will be the 20th running of the Fayette, which is a nine-furlong race on the main track. Over those two decades, we have seen the race get upgraded from a Grade 3 to a Grade 2, and it’s purse more than double. The present $350.000 that is offered was first seen in 2022, a race that saw a dead heat for the win. Last year, we had a single winner, and that was Arindel’s Ey Mon, who actually did head to the BC Classic a week later. The horse had been active up until last month, but after a claiming race confirmed that the gelding had lost his form, he was deactivated. Really though, it could be argued that the short break between the Fayette and the BC Classic is what did Ey Mon in, something that whoever wins this race will have to think about if that get ideas about nominating them next month, assuming they could be eligible. Let’s take a look at our field of eight:

1- Big Bang Boom (Rock Creek, ridden by F Prat)- Comes into the Fayette off a stunning come from behind win in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at PRX last month, where he was ten lengths out of it midway through. That’s exactly how Big Bang Boom wants it though, as even in the race prior, he was twelve lengths back, and came on to finish within one, placing fourth. We should expect to see more of the same here, and everyone should be checking to see where he is in the stretch.

2- Schopenhauer (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by A Jimenez)- The five-year-old gelding had been productive in overnights, but after he scored a three-length win in a DMR optional claimer, Maxmillion gave him the chance to make his stake debut. And he is certainly glad that he did, because Schopenhauer rose to the occasion and finished second in the Grade 1, $1,000.000 California Crown at SA last month. That was won by Master And Commander, so certainly no shame in that result. See no reason why he wouldn’t follow that up well here.

3- Twin Rackets (Alydar Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Ran against Schopenhauer last month in the California Crown, but was not as good, only finishing ninth. He was beaten by just two lengths and still earned a 100 SRF, so perhaps a better run that it seems. Twin Rackets has been able to get a piece of the purse in most of his races this year, which are all graded starts, but it’s been over a year now since his last win, the 2023 PA Derby.

4- China Syndrome (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Picked up by the trainer in the most recent auction for $70.000, and then ran for exactly that amount two weeks later in the Taylor Derby at ALB. He won that race, coming from off the pace to do so. China Syndrome is no stranger to running graded, as he did run and place second in the Peter Pan (Grade 3) this spring at AQU. He wasn’t able to build on that result, and that may have led to him going to the auction. Now, we’ll see if he can build on the Taylor Derby.

5- Gas Lighting (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by F Geroux)- It has been just slightly more than a year since the last time Gas Lighting visited the winners circle, doing so at ALB for the $200.000 Downs. In 2024, TwinTowersRacing has given him plenty of opportunities, including four grade 1’s, but his earnings for the year sit at just $50.000, as he has not even hit the board in 2024. Placing fourth in the OP Handicap kept him from getting shut out. His works are great, but he needs to live up to them on race day.

6- Rebel Agenda (Night Rider Stables, ridden by K Carmouche)- We have not seen much of Rebel Agenda this year, as the four-year-old has only made two starts in 2024: one in January and the other in July. He won that July race, an N1X allowance at SAR but has not been heard from since. Has not even worked publicly since July. Hard to get a read on him in this race, so while I am absolutely not saying that he couldn’t win, the others are not as mystery in here.

7- Calling All Angels (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- One of three horses that come into this off of the Grade 1 California Crown, but Calling All Angels didn’t beat anyone in the race. Since winning the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes at PIM in May, this gelding has struggled in three out of four races. The good run of that stretch was when he was third in the CT Classic, so can we count on that version of him showing up again?

8- Distant Breeze (The Sidley Stud, ridden by M Franco)- It doesn’t matter if it is on the dirt or on the turf, Distant Breeze knows how to get it done for The Sidley Stud. Since arriving with the trainer in March, he has gone on to win four of five races and that includes his most recent run: the Durham Cup Stakes at WO. The only race that was not a win in that stretch was the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, where he was fifth. Distant Breeze had done well with prior trainers as well, but he’s doing it at a much higher level now with The Sidley Stud. Expect him to be a top threat here as well.

Prediction: 2-8-1-3

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES