Peter Vegso homebred Go Between took the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off betting favorite Stream Cat by a neck to win the $150,000 Fayette Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) in record time in the final race of the Keeneland Fall Meet Oct. 27.(Chart, Equibase)
An event for 3-year-olds and up on the Polytrack, the Fayette was 1 1/8 miles, a half-furlong longer than Go Between’s latest score, the Unbridled Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Louisiana Downs Sept. 22.
Under Miguel Mena, Go Between stayed off the pace in the early going, chasing leaders Kona Blend, Dr. Pleasure, and Demeteor. Lazy Lane Farms’ Kona Blend set fractions of :24.95, :48.59 and 1:12.22. Stream Cat was seventh after three-quarters.
A son of Point Given, Go Between began his move between horses around the final turn and kicked to the lead. Stream Cat, under Rene Douglas, launched a five-wide move and had Go Between in his sights in deep stretch. But under urging by Mena, the 4-year-old colt hung on for victory. Kona Blend was third.
The final time was 1:47.97, a new track record for Keeneland's Polytrack.
Out of Caerleon mare Mediation, Go Between won for the sixth time in 20 starts for Vegso. Bred in Florida, the chestnut colt has earned more than $1.2 million in his career. He is conditioned by Bill Mott, who captured the Keeneland Fall Meet training title.
Going off as the third choice, Go Between returned $9.80 to win. The exacta (2-6) paid $25.60.
