Hit Present May Present Cox With Third Fayette Victory

Whereas lots of the prime two-turn filth horses await operating Nov. 2 at Del Mar in both the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) or the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile (G1), others pursue a much less demanding graded stakes alternative within the Fayette Stakes (G2) Oct. 26, the closing day of the Keeneland fall meet.

The 1 1/8-mile filth race carries a $350,000 purse, luring graded stakes winners Hit Present , Rattle N Roll , Trademark , Tumbarumba , and Heroic Transfer  into the 10-horse lineup. The Fayette gives additional attraction to horsemen with its placement about 5 weeks earlier than the $600,000 Clark Stakes (G2) Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Coach Brad Cox, a two-time Fayette winner (Leofric  , 2018; West Will Energy , 2022), has the 2-1 morning-line Fayette favourite in Hit Present , who, in his first begin since being acquired by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Wathnan Racing, captured the Lukas Basic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs over a sloppy monitor Sept. 28. Earlier than that race, the grey and/or roan Sweet Experience   colt had gained 5 of 12 begins for his homeowners/breeders Gary and Mary West, together with the Aug. 4 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer On line casino Racetrack & Resort in his begin previous the Lukas Basic. Cox has skilled Hit Present all through his profession.

Hit Present wins the Lukas Basic!

Jockey: @flothejock
Coach: @bradcoxracing
Proprietor: Wathnan Racing pic.twitter.com/Ff3iyqgcg1

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) September 29, 2024

Florent Geroux, aboard Leofric for Cox’s first win on this race six years in the past, returns within the irons aboard the stalking Hit Present. He has been aboard the colt all through his 3-for-4 marketing campaign as a 4-year-old this yr.

Wathnan Racing can also be represented by Brian Lynch-traned Tumbarumba (6-1 odds). The latter could show the one to catch beneath Luis Saez within the Fayette, stretching out from a mile and drawn towards the within in publish 2.

Though no match for Hit Present within the Lukas Basic when third, overwhelmed 3 3/4 lengths, Rattle N Roll (4-1 odds) seems possible to enhance Saturday in his second begin following almost a yr layoff.

The Kenny McPeek-trained 5-year-old son of Join   is a two-time winner in 4 begins over the Keeneland predominant monitor, first taking the 2021 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old after which including the 2023 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) as a 4-year-old.

BBN Racing’s Trademark disillusioned within the 2023 Fayette however rebounded within the Clark slightly greater than a month later in edging First Mission  by a nostril in that race. The Vicki Oliver trainee, a 5-year-old Upstart   gelding, is a 10-1 odds on the morning after ending out of the cash in 5 begins following the Clark.