Independence Hall Dominates Hagyard Fayette on Closing Day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, WinStar Farm and Robert and Kathleen Verratti’s Independence Hall shrugged off the challenge of Code of Honor for an emphatic 7¼-length score in the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2), the featured event on closing day of the 17-day Keeneland Fall Meet.

Today’s 10-race card also included the $150,000 Bryan Station, won by Camp Hope, and the $150,000 Bowman Mill, won by Nakatomi.

In the Hagyard Fayette, jockey Javier Castellano hustled Independence Hall to the early lead and moved clear to a comfortable 1-length margin in the first quarter-mile clocking of :24.24. Following a half mile in :48.38 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.45, Code of Honor and jockey Tyler Gaffalione began to move alongside Independence Hall. At the quarter pole, Independence Hall shook clear from the challenge to an impressive win. 

Independence Hall, a 4-year-old colt by Constitution, covered 1 1/8 miles over the track labeled sloppy in 1:50.30. He is trained by Michael McCarthy.

Three-year-old King Fury, the 9-5 favorite, finished third, and was followed by Night Ops, Militarist, Manhattan Up, Major Fed and Fort Peck.

Independence Hall returned $9, $4.40 and $3.20. Code of Honor paid $3.80 and $2.60 to place, while King Fury returned $2.60.

Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Independence Hall is out of the Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat. The $100,000 purchase at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale earned $120,000 for his victory in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes to boost his career earnings to $874,000. His record improved to 13-5-2-2.

Camp Hope impresses in Bryan Station

Walking L Thoroughbreds’ Camp Hope overtook pacesetter Dreamer’s Disease at the top of the lane and cruised to a 2¾-length score in the $150,000 Bryan Station for his second win of the Fall Meet. He won a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on turf Oct. 8, opening day of the season.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Camp Hope covered 1 mile of the Bryan Station over a turf course rated yielding in 1:38.32.

Dreamer’s Disease had a clear lead over the Bryan Station field through an opening quarter-mile in :24.62. Camp Hope and Hernandez tracked in second, 1 length off Dreamer’s Disease. Following a half-mile split of :49.04, Camp Hope moved to the outside of the tiring pacesetter and spurted clear for a comfortable victory.

Camp Hope paid $7, $4.80 and $3.40 for the win. Like the King and jockey John Velazquez finished second and returned $6.60 and $4, while Yes This Time and Tyler Gaffalione rallied for third and paid $2.80.

A Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale graduate bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones, Camp Hope is a 3-year-old son of Summer Front out of the Pulpit mare Praising. He received $90,000 for today’s win, which improved his overall record to 9-3-0-2 with earnings of $225,557.

Charles Chrome was a nose back in fourth and was followed by Hush of a Storm, Point Me By, Scarlett Sky, Gallant Guy and Dreamer’s Disease. 
 

Nakatomi rallies late to win Bowman Mill

Marc Detampel, Qatar Racing and Bottle Rocket Stable’s Nakatomi and jockey Tyler Gaffalione stormed down the center of the main track to win the $150,000 Bowman Mill.

Trained by Wesley Ward, he covered 6 furlongs in 1:10.33.

Nakatomi was relegated to fifth in the early stages of the Bowman Mill while Chattalot and Hope in Him battled on the early lead through an opening quarter-mile fraction of :21.92. Around the far turn, Hope in Him began to fade while Freelancer and My Prankster moved in tandem in their attempt to catch Chattalot on the lead.

Meanwhile, Nakatomi began his charge around horses at the top of the lane, following a half-mile time of :45.29. Nakatomi surged past My Prankster inside the final eighth-mile for a three-quarter-length win.

Nakatomi paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.40. My Prankster, the slight post-time favorite with John Velazquez in the saddle, paid $3.40 and $2.60. Chattalot, with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons, held third to return $2.60.

Freelancer faded to fourth and was followed by Lucky Shot, Hungry Henry and Hope in Him.

A Keeneland November Sale graduate, Nakatomi is a 2-year-old gelding by Firing Line out of the Flatter mare Applelicious. His Bowman Mill victory was worth $90,000, which increased his bankroll to $175,400 with a record of 5-2-1-1.