Keeneland’s Fall Stars weekend was truly one for the books thanks to top class racing, perfect weather and scores of fans at the Lexington, Kentucky track. This year, the fall meet coincides with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, set to be run at Keeneland on Nov. 4 – 5.
The domestic Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series wrapped up over the weekend as well, with nine ‘Win and You’re In’ races taking place at Keeneland. Challenge Series provide an all-expenses paid berth into particular Breeders’ Cup races, depending on the division. Horse Country members were represented as breeders, stallion owners, consignors and more throughout this past weekend of racing. Learn more about the winners below!
Photo by Grace Clark/Horse Country.
Grade One Stakes Races
The first G1 race of the Keeneland Fall Meet, the G1 Darley Alcibiades, went to the favored Wonder Wheel. The daughter of Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief led from wire to wire, fending off the strong-closing Chop Chop to win by a nose and secure her entry in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4. Wonder Wheel was co-bred by Three Chimneys Farm, and sold at Keeneland as a yearling.
Keeneland Graduate Forte proved his tenacity with a hard-fought win in the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity over the favored Loggins. The colt earned his place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with this victory at Keeneland.
Three year old Annapolis sat just off of the pace before bounding home to win the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile by a length and a half. The colt secured his place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 5 at Keeneland with the victory.
2021 Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat notched her fifth grade one victory with a romp in the G1 Juddmonte Spinster on Sunday, Oct. 9. Favored in the field of five, she sat just off of the pace and exploded in the stretch to win by 5 ¼ lengths. The filly was bred by Stonestreet Farm (who owns and bred her dam, G1 winner Dreaming of Julia) and sold for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Denali Stud. Her victory in the Spinster Stakes earned her a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff next month, a race she finished third in last year.
Photo by Grace Clark/Horse Country.
Grade Two Stakes Races
The G2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, run at six furlongs on the dirt, is a ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge Series race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Run on Friday, Oct. 7 as the first stakes race of Fall Stars weekend, the Phoenix came down to a nail biting finish between two of the longest shots in the field. Manny Wah, a son of Three Chimneys Farm stallion Will Take Charge, prevailed by a neck over Long Range Toddy, a son of WinStar Farm stallion Take Charge Indy. Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy are actually half brothers, who have the same dam in Take Charge Lady.
The globe-trotting turf sprinter Golden Pal won his berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Saturday, Oct. 8 with a strong victory in the G2 Woodford Stakes. This was his second victory in the stakes, and his fourth victory at Keeneland. Golden Pal is a son of Coolmore America stallion Uncle Mo, and his damsire Midshipman stands at Darley’s Jonabell Farm. He will seek to win his third Breeders’ Cup championship race next month in the Turf Sprint, and could become the first male horse to ever win three Breeders’ Cup races.
New Mexico-bred Slammed broke sharply and never looked back in the G2 Thoroughbred Club of America on Saturday, Oct. 7, drawing away to win by 6 ½ lengths. Her victory earned her a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 5 at Keeneland.
Andthewinneris was the first winner for Mill Ridge Farm stallion Oscar Performance at the Keeneland Spring Meet, and the colt became the first stakes winner for his sire on Sunday, Oct. 9 with a victory in the G2 Bourbon Stakes. Sitting near the back of the pack, he came flying home to win by 2 ¾ lengths over Deer District, another son of Oscar Performance. The victory for Andthewinneris secured him a spot in the gate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 4.
Coolmore America stallion Mendelssohn was represented by his first stakes victory when Delight went wire to wire in the G2 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine. The filly cruised to a 5 length victory with her ears pricked as they crossed the wire. Delight’s victory earned her a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, to be held over the Keeneland turf course on Nov. 4.
Listed Stakes
Private Creed, a son of Spendthrift Farm stallion Jimmy Creed, picked up his second consecutive stakes victory in the Indian Summer. The Keeneland September graduate posted a strong closing victory to win by ¾ of a length, and gain a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
The Keeneland Fall Meet continues through Nov. 5, when the track hosts the Breeders’ Cup World Championships as the culmination of their meet. Check out our Keeneland Meet Preview here, and our Guide to Fall in Horse Country for things to do when you’re in town for the races!