Race of the Week: Lafayette Stakes

Although Keeneland's main attraction this weekend is the Breeders' Cup, Thursday's feature has some very nice horses who in the past had done well in graded stakes. It's also the inaugural Walkover to the Paddock Race of the Week. Lets take a look at this year's Lafayette Stakes.

8th Race - Keeneland - Thursday, October 29th, 2015
STAKES. 7 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $100,000. Lafayette S.. FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. By subscription of $100 each, which should accompany the nomination or by Supplementary Nomination of $6,000 by time of entry (Includes entry and starting fees.) $1,000 to enter and an additional $1,000 to start with $100,000 guaranteed, of which $60,000 to the owner of the winner, $20,000 to second, $10,000 to third, $5,000 to fourth, $3,000 to fifth and $2,000 to be divided equally among sixth through last. Weight: Three-year-olds, 122 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winnersof a graded sweepstakes in 2015 allowed 2 lbs.; $58,000 in 2015 , 4 lbs. The maximum number of starters for the Lafayette will be limited to fourteen. In the event that more than fourteen horses pass the entry box, the fourteen starters will be determineed at that time with preference to graded stakes winners (in orderI-II-III), then highest earnings in 2015. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. A set of two silver julep cups will be presented to the owner of the winner. Closed Wednesday, October 14, 2015 with 33 nominations. (04:24 PM)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Den's Legacy 5 H L 120 Santana, Jr. Ricardo Moquett Ron
2 Falling Sky 5 H L 120 Leparoux Julien R. Wolfson Martin D.
3 Coastline 4 C L 120 Bridgmohan Shaun Lovell Michelle
4 Nates Mineshaft 8 R L 120 Esquivel Emmanuel Smith Anne P.
5 Midnight Cello 5 G L 124 Geroux Florent Tomlinson Michael A.
6 Doubledown Again 5 G L 120 Smith Mike E. Maker Michael J.

Den's Legacy (Medaglia d'Oro): 2 for 10 this year, with those wins in an Allowance and an Allowance/Optional Claimer. Hasn't run too well in his last two (5th in the Ack Ack and 8th in the Forego), but did finish 3rd in the Iowa Sprint. Best running was done at 2 (where finished 3rd in the Cash Call Futurity ahead of the next year's Preakness winner Oxbow) and 3 (second in the Sham, Lewis, and La Jolla).

Falling Sky (Lion Heart): Won the Trinniberg for lone win on the season in 4 starts, but was runner up in the Groomstick last time out. 3rd in last years Vanderbilt and won the Gulfstream Park Sprint as well.

Coastline (Speightstown): 2 for 7 on the season, with both wins in Allowance/Optional Claimers. First stakes start since 10th place finish in the Blue Grass. Won the Street Sense at 2 and was 3rd in both the Spiral and Smarty Jones.

Nates Mineshaft (Mineshaft): 0 for 8 on the season. 2012 Mineshaft and New Orleans Handicap winner. Was second in this years Churchill Downs Stakes and 3rd in the Aristides. 8th last time out in the Phoenix earlier this month.

Midnight Cello (Midnight Lute): Won the Hanshin in lone win this year with 6 starts. 4th last time out in the Ack Ack. 2nd in last years Miami Mile.

Doubledown Again (Rockport Harbor): 4th in lone graded stakes start. 1 for 7 on this year, but that win was in the Caixa Eletronica. Finished behind Palace Malice in the Diablo where the 2013 Belmont winner was attempting his comeback.

Picks

Win: Coastline
Place: Falling Sky
Show: Midnight Cello