The 7th Running of the Lafayette Stakes

Friday, April 7, 2023

KEE Race #2 $400.000

3YOs  120 Lbs 7 Furlongs

#1 Recovery (Mb Stables/D. Van Dyke): Gelding to the $175.000 Clarendon back in December but enters 0-3 in 2023.  Two of those were graded tries before not firing in a GP allowance.  Needs a strong pace to run into and a bit of a form reversal here.

#2 Roswell (Riggins Racing/J.R. Velazquez): Was 3rd in the Pasco before changing hands for $242.000.  Tried the G2 FOY in first start for this outfit but returns to ungraded ranks here.  Another that will be looking for some pace in front of him.

#3 Compher (Royalty Stables/Ru. Silvera): Won on debut back in September and tried winners before going under the knife.  Unsuccessful try routing saw him cut back to this distance in a wire-to-wire SA allowance score.

#4 Figure Of Speech (Arindel/P. Lopez): Gelding has made a nice progression from two-to-three.  Sandwiched runner-up efforts around a GP allowance tally.  Just missed last out going 6f at this level and appears to be in top form.

#5 Higher Rate (Asgar/D.E. Centeno): Won at second asking on a muddy WO strip before visiting the vet.  Three starts this season are a bit of a mixed bag, but he did show some serious early foot last time.  Could be dangerous if left alone out front.

#6 King Noah (Arindel/L. Saez): Colt has faced some of the division’s best and is clearly the class of this field.  Won PA-restricted race in ’22 finale but didn’t fare so well against open company in three starts this season.  Class relief may be just what’s needed.

Final Analysis: 6-4-1 is how we see the Lafayette finishing.  Good luck to all involved!

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES