Tight Races for Leaders Mark Final Days of Keeneland

October 26, 2023

Keeneland Photo

Glengarry Invades From Iowa For Saturday’s Bowman Mill 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Bassett!

Closing Week Special Events

Keeneland Press Release

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the final three days of Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet, and the time features close races among jockeys, trainers and owners vying for leadership during the season.

Prior to the start of racing today, Luis Saez leads all jockeys with 17 wins, followed by Tyler Gaffalione (16 wins) and Flavien Prat (14). 

Saez is named on horses in six races Thursday, nine races Friday and nine races Saturday. Gaffalione is to ride horses in nine races Thursday, eight races Friday and nine races Saturday. Prat has mounts in four races Thursday, six races Friday and eight races Saturday.

Among trainers atop the leaders list before the start of racing today, Brad Cox leads with eight wins, followed by two trainers with six victories each: Chris Hartman and Todd Pletcher.

Cox is to saddle horses in five races Thursday, five races Friday and five races Saturday. Hartman’s final three entrants of the season will come Thursday. Pletcher, who has one horse entered Thursday, has three horses Friday and five entrants Saturday.

With three days remaining, Godolphin (Mohammed Al Maktoum et al) has won four races to lead owners. Godolphin has one entrant both Thursday and Saturday.

Fall 2023 Meet Leaders

Through Oct. 25 (14 days of 17-day season)

JockeyStartsWins2nd3rdPurses
Luis Saez9717176$1,847,187
Tyler Gaffalione101162311$2,297,773
Flavien Prat651487$1,599,506
TrainerStartsWins2nd3rdPurses
Brad Cox43847$1,121,046
Todd Pletcher22624$1,715,785
Chris Hartman22642$295,099

Trainers Steve Asmussen, Chad Brown and Wesley Ward all have five wins apiece.

OwnersWins
Godolphin (Mohammed Al Maktoum et al)4
JD Thoroughbreds (Jackie Slawson), Joey Keith Davis and Larry J. Romero4
Rigney Racing (Richard Rigney)3
Wertheimer and Frere (Alain and Gerard Wertheimer)3

Glengarry Invades From Iowa For Saturday’s Bowman Mill

Glengarry’s maiden victory first time out under jockey Ken Tohill! August 28 at Prairie Meadows. (Coady Photography)

For Saturday’s fourth running of the $200,000 Bowman Mill for 2-year-olds racing 6 furlongs on the main track, the field of nine is represented by runners who made their most recent starts in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York and Iowa. 

The Iowa invader is the undefeated Glengarry, who figures to be the one to catch under Luis Saez. 

An Iowa-bred son of Maximus Mischief, Glengarry has won his two starts by a combined 18½ lengths with the latter victory coming in the Iowa Cradle Stakes by 12¾ lengths. Both wins have come at 6 furlongs. 

“He has done everything we have asked him to, and we are very excited about him,” said trainer Doug Anderson, who owns the colt in partnership with Aaron Kennedy and Toby Joseph. “He’s a good-looking colt with great demeanor, and he has had no issues whatsoever. He’s never missed an oat.”

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet runs through Saturday. 
Post time for the first race each day is 1 p.m. ET.

Click here to access complimentary Equibase past performances for the season.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Bassett!!!

James E. “Ted” Bassett III. (Keeneland Photo)

Today is the 102nd birthday of James E. “Ted” Bassett III, known as “Mr. Bassett” to his many friends and admirers at Keeneland, throughout Central Kentucky and around the world who cherish his regal demeanor and graciousness.

Bassett has been synonymous with Keeneland for decades. After serving as Kentucky’s Director of State Police, he began working for the Keeneland Association in 1968 and was Keeneland President from 1970-1986 before becoming Chairman of the Board. In 2003, he was named a Keeneland Trustee and now is a Trustee Emeritus.

Click here for another look at the amazing Mr. Bassett.

The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. through the final race.

Galloping Out … … … …

In Race 5 on Sunday, Oct. 22, trainer Kathleen Demasi earned her first Keeneland victory when Luis Saez rode All That Magic to a 1½-length win in a 5½-furlong allowance race on turf. Demasi’s Pewter Stable owns the winner with Spedale Family Racing. …

Two trainers recorded their first Keeneland wins on Oct. 25: Panagiotis Synnefias and William Morey. In Race 1, Synnefias sent out Brian Shyda’s 20-1 longshot The Gatekeeper to win a 1 1/8-mile race by 3¼ lengths. Morey won Race 7 with Night Time, owned by S B Stables, GenStar Thoroughbreds, David A. Bernsen and Omar Aldabbagh. Night Time took the 7-furlong race by a head.

Closing Week Special Events

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Visit keeneland.com/tours for availability and to purchase. 

Today through Dec. 8

Keeneland Library Presents the Exhibit The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers. This fascinating exhibithighlights the lives and careers of 80 African Americans working in the Thoroughbred industry from the mid-1800s to the present. Located on Keeneland’s campus, Keeneland Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reach the Library, enter Keeneland at Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center. The exhibit is free.

Today through Saturday

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Secretariat Exhibit. Keeneland is hosting the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s traveling exhibit, “A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown,” in front of the Sales Pavilion. The free exhibit, which is open to the public, features Secretariat’s 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown trophies along with videos that will take fans through Secretariat’s unique journey and tell the stories of the people who guided him through his legendary career. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. through the final race.

Friday and Saturday

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for Keeneland’s free official tailgating area, which offers a unique way to experience the races. Watch and wager on Keeneland’s live races shown on a jumbo TV screen. Have a question about handicapping? BETologists, Keeneland’s wagering experts, are there to answer questions. Meanwhile, enjoy food trucks along with live music presented by The Burl and take complimentary shuttles to the track. The Hill is located adjacent to the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center and is accessible via Gate 4. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For additional details, visit Keeneland.com/tailgating.

Friday

Jockey Autograph Signing. Fans will meet active and retired Keeneland riders – from Hall of Famers to history makers and Keeneland favorites. in an event that benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Signing takes place near the Walking Ring from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Keeneland will have items such as posters, hats, goggles and autograph books available for purchase to have signed, or fans may bring their own item to have signed for a donation. Retired jockeys planning to attend: Alex Solis, Chris McCarron, Shane Sellers, Mike Manganelo, Anthony Stephen, Johnny and Suzie Oldham, Donna Barton Brothers, Carol Faulconer, Gary Birzer, Jack Kaenel, Sandy Hawley  and Kaoru Tschuchiya Hawley, Charlie Woods, Mickey Solomone and Jesse Garcia.

Saturday

Sunrise Trackside (Special Halloween Edition). This free morning program, which begins at 8 a.m., is geared toward families with a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. This Saturday’s event will include a costume contest and an appearance by the Headless Horseman in the Paddock at 10 a.m. This event is open to the public and does not require a ticket to attend. The Headless Horseman will appear on the main track after Race 4 (post time 2:36 p.m.).

Teacher Appreciation Day. Teachers, educators, and staff along with one guest can receive free general admission. Through partnership with Coca-Cola and UPS, educators can visit the tent near the Paddock to sign up for giveaways and receive a complimentary voucher for a Coca-Cola beverage. The Keeneland Shop is offering 15% off to any active teacher with a valid ID. Click here for more information and to reserve complimentary tickets.

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