Breeders' Cup Day Fayette Deep in Experience

Edited from Keeneland press release

A competitive field of nine was entered for Saturday's $150,000 Fayette Stakes (gr. III) scheduled to be run at a 1 1/8 miles on the Keeneland main track. Eight of the nine horses entered are already stakes winners, six of which were graded wins.

The likely favorite will be William Slevin's Lord of the Game, winner of seven starts this year and a game second edged by a nose in his last start in the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II). Trainer Tom Tomillo had hoped the 4-year-old son of Saint Ballado was going to draw into the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), but when entries were announced, he found that the horse had been excluded.

"We would have liked to get into the Breeders' Cup (Classic, gr. I)," Tomillo said, "but there is nothing we can do about it. It was either go up to New York and wait or go to Keeneland and wait. He's handled everything we've asked of him as far as racing and shipping goes. I think he should run a good race Saturday."

Jockey Eusebio Razo Jr., who has been aboard for all of the horses career starts will fly in from Chicago for the mount.

Trainer Neil Howard has won this race three times previously, including taking last year's edition by a nose with Midway Road. This year, Howard brings William Farish, James Elkins Jr., and W. Temple Webber,Jr.'s Alumni Hall, a 6-year-old son of A.P. Indy who certainly has shown an affinity for the surface with three wins from four career starts at Keeneland.

With regular jockey Robby Albarado in New York for the Breeders' Cup, Calvin Borel will gain the mount.

Shaniko was impressive in taking his last two starts by open lengths, including the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) Sept 17. Trainer Todd Pletcher has the 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy training forwardly for this spot, putting in two easy workouts since his last race. Jockey Mike Luzzi is scheduled to fly down from New York for the mount.

Breeders' Cup Day at Keeneland on closing day Oct. 29 features a first post at noon instead of its usual 1:15 p.m. to accommodate the simulcast of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships from Belmont Park.

The first two Breeders' Cup races from Belmont will be run between Keeneland's final three races.

The field from the rail out: M B Sea (Corey Lanerie); Habaneros (James Graham); Alumni Hall (Borel); Mambo Train (E.T. Baird); Fantasticat (John McKee); Trapped Again (Joe Rocco); Lord of the Game (Razo, Jr.); Shaniko (Luzzi), and On Thin Ice (Willie Martinez).