Fayette Stakes

Horse race From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Fayette Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting. It currently offers a purse of $350,000.

Quick Facts Class, Location ...
Fayette Stakes
ClassGrade II
LocationKeeneland Race Course
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1959 (as Fayette Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
SponsorHagyard (since 2013)
WebsiteKeeneland
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$350,000 (since 2022)
Close

History

Summarize
Perspective

The event is named for Fayette County, Kentucky, of which the city of Lexington is the county seat.

The inaugural running of the event was on 24 October 1959, closing day of the Keeneland Fall meeting as the Fayette Handicap.[1] The event attracted some fine handicap horses from Kentucky and around the Midwest. The day the event was held the weather was wet and windy and the track was rated as sloppy.[1] The winner H. Edsall Olson & R. Douglas Prewitt's Terra Firma, was a short 4/5 odds-on favorite after earlier in the month setting a new course record for the 1+18 miles distance in the Charles W. Bidwill Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago.[1]

The following year the event was held on opening day of the Keeneland Fall meeting.[2]

In the 1960s the event was won twice by horses that were imported to the United States by Bruno Ferrari. The 1961 longshot winner Zumbador II was the 1960 Uruguayan Triple Crown winner.[3] The 1966 winner Yumbel was the 1965 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse in Chile.[4]

In 1963 the distance of the event was decreased to 1+116 miles and the winner Choker equaled the track record of 1:4125 winning by two lengths.[5] In 1965 the gallant six-year-old mare Old Hat won by a neck[5] and was later voted as US Champion Older Dirt Female Horse for a second time.

Other fine winners of the event from that era include Thomas F. Devereux's Royal Harmony, who won the event three times straight, 1969–1971.[6] His 1970 victory was noteworthy in that Royal Harmony defeated the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander who was promoted to second after Fast Hilarious was disqualified.[7] The 1972 winner was the only other filly to win the event, Emanuel V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark's Chou Croute.[6] Although Chou Croute was the favorite and won by a neck[6] her outstanding performances during the year landed her US Champion Sprinter honors for 1972.[8]

The event was run in two split divisions in 1976 and 1982.[9]

In 1979 the distance of the event was reverted to the original 1+18 miles. The same year the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the event to Grade III classification.[10]

The race was contested on turf in 1985 for the only running and was won by 70/1 longshot Wop Wop setting a new course record for the turf distance in 1:5125 winning by 2+12 lengths.[11]

In 1987 the event was upgraded to Grade II status and although currently the event hold that status, between 1997 and 2008 the event held a Grade III classification.[10]

In 1992 the conditions of the event were modified to stakes with allowances and the name was subsequently changed to Fayette Stakes.[10]

In 1997 running Universe ridden by Craig Perret broke down early on while tracking leader Whiskey Wisdom causing Preocity to fall hindering the other three runners.[12] Whiskey Wisdom went on to win easily by twelve lengths which remains to date to be the stakes winning margin record.[13]

The distance of the event was increased to 1+316 miles in 1998. However, even with Breeders' Cup sponsorship awards the then event was poorly fielded and the distance was reverted to 1+18 miles after three runnings of the event.[10]

The event was run on Polytrack from 2006 through 2013.[10]

Other notable winners of this event include 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall who won the event in 1991 as the 2/5 odds-on favorite defeating his rival Unbridled by three lengths.[14] One month later Unbridled would meet Summer Squall in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs with Unbridled finishing third and Summer Squall ninth.[15]

The 2009 winner of this event, Blame won his first Graded stakes race in a career that would end with him winning the Breeders' Cup Classic the following year and winning US Champion Older Male Horse honors. Blame's sire and 2012 winner Newsdad's sire Arch won this event setting a new track record for the 1+316 miles distance in 1998.[16]

The 2011 winner of this event, Wise Dan displayed his versatility winning on the polytrack surface and later becoming the US Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+18 miles: 1:46.80 - Good Command (1987) & Grand Jewel (1993)
  • 1+116 miles: 1:41.20 - Silver Series (1978)
  • 1+316 miles: 1:53.87 - Arch (1998)
Margins
  • 12 lengths – Whiskey Wisdom (1997)
Most wins
  • 3 - Royal Harmony (1969, 1970, 1971)
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
Most wins by an owner

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Fayette Stakes
2024 Hit Show 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Wathnan Racing 1+18 miles 1:50.33 $350,000 II [17]
2023 O'Connor (CHI) 6 Tyler Gaffalione Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Michael & Julia C. Iavarone & Fernando Vine Ode 1+18 miles 1:50.61 $310,538 II [18]
2022 West Will Power 5 Joel Rosario Brad H. Cox Gary & Mary West 1+18 miles 1:50.68 $350,000 II [19]
2021 Independence Hall 4 Javier Castellano Michael McCarthy Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creek Racing Stables, WinStar Farm, Kathleen Verrati & Robert Verrati 1+18 miles 1:50.30 $200,000 II [20]
2020 Mr Freeze 5 Javier Castellano Dale L. Romans Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister 1+18 miles 1:50.71 $200,000 II [21]
2019 Tom's d'Etat 6 Joel Rosario Albert Stall Jr. G M B Racing 1+18 miles 1:49.17 $200,000 II [22]
2018 Leofric 5 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Steve Landers Racing 1+18 miles 1:49.87 $200,000 II [23]
2017 The Player 4 Calvin H. Borel William B. Bradley William B. Bradley & Carl Hurst 1+18 miles 1:48.16 $200,000 II [24]
2016 Noble Bird 5 Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+18 miles 1:47.75 $200,000 II [25]
2015 Race Day 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Matthew Schera 1+18 miles 1:47.90 $200,000 II [26]
2014 Pick of the Litter 4 Corey J. Lanerie Dale L. Romans Crossed Sabres Farm 1+18 miles 1:49.48 $200,000 II [27]
2013 Nikki's Sandcastle 6 Leandro D. Goncalves David C. Kassen Richard Sherman 1+18 miles 1:48.13 $200,000 II [28]
2012 Newsdad 4 Julien R. Leparoux William I. Mott James S. Karp 1+18 miles 1:48.24 $150,000 II [29]
2011 Wise Dan 4 Julien R. Leparoux Charles LoPresti Morton Fink 1+18 miles 1:48.72 $150,000 II [30]
2010 Successful Dan 4 Julien R. Leparoux Charles LoPresti Morton Fink 1+18 miles 1:47.09 $150,000 II [31]
2009 Blame 3 Jamie Theriot Albert Stall Jr. Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1+18 miles 1:50.54 $150,000 II [32]
2008 Ball Four 7 Julio A. Garcia Derek Galvin Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 1+18 miles 1:48.37 $150,000 III [33]
2007 Go Between 4 Miguel Mena William I. Mott Peter Vegso 1+18 miles 1:47.97 $150,000 III [34]
2006 Eccentric (GB) 5 Eddie Castro Roger L. Attfield Gary A. Tanaka 1+18 miles 1:49.16 $150,000 III [35]
2005 Alumni Hall 6 Calvin H. Borel Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III, James Elkins & W. Temple Webber Jr. 1+18 miles 1:51.37 $150,000 III [36]
2004 Midway Road 4 Calvin H. Borel Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 1+18 miles 1:50.39 $161,250 III [37]
2003 M B Sea 4 Craig Perret Dale L. Romans Michael J. Bruder 1+18 miles 1:50.30 $163,800 III [38]
2002 Tenpins 4 Craig Perret Donald R. Winfree Joseph Vitello 1+18 miles 1:51.17 $156,122 III [39]
2001 Connected 4 Marlon St. Julien David M. Carroll Helen Alexander & Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust 1+18 miles 1:50.05 $166,950 III [40]
2000 Jadada 5 Shane Sellers Mitch Shirota Sterling Stud 1+316 miles 1:54.92 $214,800 III [41]
1999 Social Charter 4 Marlon St. Julien Patrick B. Byrne Stonerside Stable & Robert E. Sangster 1+316 miles 1:55.28 $212,624 III [42]
1998 Arch 3 Shane Sellers Frank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1+316 miles 1:53.87 $153,939 III [16]
1997 Whiskey Wisdom 4 Willie Martinez Roger L. Attfield Kinghaven Farms 1+18 miles 1:48.64 $158,304 III [13]
1996 Isitingood 5 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram & Terry Henn 1+18 miles 1:50.42 $193,725 II [43]
1995 Judge T C 4 Joe M. Johnson Gary G. Hartlage Bea & Robert H. Roberts 1+18 miles 1:49.05 $168,750 II [44]
1994 Sunny Sunrise 7 Jeffrey D. Carle Bud Delp Harry Meyerhoff 1+18 miles 1:50.18 $109,300 II [45]
1993 Grand Jewel 3 Jerry D. Bailey Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III & William S. Kilroy 1+18 miles 1:46.87 $110,700 II [46]
1992 Barkerville 4 Shane Sellers Frank L. Brothers Don Millar 1+18 miles 1:48.43 $114,000 II [47]
Fayette Handicap
1991 Summer Squall 4 Pat Day Neil J. Howard Dogwood Stable 1+18 miles 1:48.84 $107,400 II [14]
1990 Lac Ouimet 7 Randy Romero Thomas J. Skiffington Virginia Kraft Payson 1+18 miles 1:47.20 $108,050 II [48]
1989 Drapeau Tricolore 4 James E. Bruin D. Wayne Lukas Wildenstein Stable 1+18 miles 1:48.20 $110,300 II [49]
1988 Homebuilder 4 Don Brumfield Woodford C. Stephens Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) 1+18 miles 1:51.20 $105,100 II [50]
1987 Good Command 4 Don Brumfield Gary F. Jones Prestonwood Farm 1+18 miles 1:46.80 $113,725 II [51]
1986 Harham's Sizzler 7 Randall A. Meier Louis M. Goldfine Harold M. Florsheim 1+18 miles 1:49.20 $58,525 III [52]
1985 Wop Wop 3 Darrell Ellis Foster John T. Ward Jr. Abner C. Hiler Jr. 1+18 miles 1:51.40 $56,200 III [11]
1984 Star Choice 5 James McKnight Carl A. Nafzger Frances A. Genter 1+18 miles 1:47.40 $56,400 III [53]
1983 Cad 5 Don Brumfield David C. Kassen Ted Smith & Bill Marko 1+18 miles 1:48.80 $53,325 III Dead heat[54]
Frost King 5 Robin Platts William Marko Double Eagle Stable
1982 Rivalero 3 Randy Romero Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Joe W. & Dorothy D. Brown 1+18 miles 1:50.20 $56,862 III Division 1[55]
El Baba 6 Don Brumfield Dewey P. Smith Calumet Farm 1:50.40 $59,212 Division 2[56]
1981 Ironworks 3 Pat Day Charles R. Werstler Dixiana Stable 1+18 miles 1:49.20 $63,250 III [57]
1980 Hurry Up Blue 3 Gerland Gallitano Joseph M. Bollero Russell L. Reineman 1+18 miles 1:49.00 $59,000 III [58]
1979 Architect 3 Stanley Spencer Harvey L. Vanier Carl Lauer 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $56,375 III [59]
1978 †Silver Series 4 Don Brumfield Peter M. Howe Pillar Farm 1+116 miles 1:41.20 $31,950 [60]
1977 Bob's Dusty 3 Richard dePass William E. Adams Robert N. Lehmann 1+116 miles 1:42.80 $28,300 [61]
1976 Silver Badge 5 Garth Patterson George T. Poole Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1+116 miles 1:44.60 $27,662 Division 1[62]
§Yamanin 4 Garth Patterson George T. Poole Hajime Doi 1:43.20 $27,537 Division 2[63]
1975 Warbucks 5 Jimmy Nichols Don Combs Edward E. Elzemeyer 1+116 miles 1:44.40 $28,200 [64]
1974 Jesta Dream Away 4 Anthony Rini James E. Morgan George A. Zimmerman & Edwin J. Zwiesler 1+116 miles 1:41.60 $27,875 [65]
1973 §Chateauvira 5 Gerland Gallitano Del W. Carroll William S. Farish III 1+116 miles 1:42.80 $29,375 [66]
1972 ƒChou Croute 4 John L. Rotz Bob G. Dunham Emanuel V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark 1+116 miles 1:44.00 $29,075 [67]
1971 Royal Harmony 7 David E. Whited Pat B. Devereux Sr. Thomas F. Devereux 1+116 miles 1:42.60 $29,850 [68]
1970 Royal Harmony 6 Earl J. Knapp Pat B. Devereux Sr. Thomas F. Devereux 1+116 miles 1:42.80 $27,425 [7]
1969 Royal Harmony 5 Mickey Solomone Pat B. Devereux Sr. Thomas F. Devereux 1+116 miles 1:42.60 $28,550 [69]
1968 Yorkville 4 David E. Whited John M. Hart Edward J. Grosfield 1+116 miles 1:42.00 $28,250 [70]
1967 Swoonaway 6 Billy Phelps S. Bryant Ott E. Gay Drake 1+116 miles 1:42.60 $29,250 [71]
1966 Yumbel (CHI) 5 Hector Pilar Albert Filicomo Walnut Hill Farm (Bruno Ferrari) 1+116 miles 1:43.60 $28,500 [72]
1965 ƒOld Hat 6 Robert Gallimore Charles C. Norman Stanley Conrad 1+116 miles 1:42.80 $28,200 [73]
1964 Swoonen 4 Kenny Knapp Willard L. Proctor J. Graham Brown 1+116 miles 1:42.00 $28,600 [74]
1963 Choker 3 Kenneth Church Joe Kramer Louis Lee Haggin II 1+116 miles 1:41.40 $18,100 [5]
1962 Blue Croon 4 Norman Cox Douglas Davis Jr. W. Richard Henderson 1+18 miles 1:48.80 $17,350 [75]
1961 Zumbador II (URU) 4 Ray Broussard Leo Sierra Bruno Ferrari 1+18 miles 1:47.60 $16,750 [76]
1960 §Little Fitz 5 William A. Peake Robert C. Steele John C. Hauer 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $17,700 [2]
1959 Terra Firma 4 Kenneth Church R. Douglas Prewitt H. Edsall Olson & R. Douglas Prewitt 1+18 miles 1:51.40 $17,100 [1]
Close

Legend:
  Dirt   All Weather Track   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare
† In the 1978 running of the event 1978 Buckfinder finished first but was disqualified for impeding Silver Series in the stretch run and set back to second.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

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