Race 8 at Keeneland | Saturday, October 24 | Post Time: 4:44 PM Eastern

Hagyard Fayette Stakes – Grade 3 | Purse: $350,000 | One Mile and One-Eighth | Three-Year-Olds and Upward

Top Win Contender(s): Willy D’s (11), Stars and Stripes (8), Hit Show (1)

Willy D’s (11) has three straight wins on a fast track, all stakes. His first came in March at this distance in the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes, then he won the Lake Ouachita Stakes in May where he earned a 109 Equibase Speed Figure. That was one of his best figures, but his recent best of 116 was when he won the Charles Town Classic Stakes, also at the distance of the Hagyard Fayette Stakes. He is very competitive, with a record of 8-7-2 in 29 races, and at this distance his record is 3-3-0 in eight races. Jockey John Velazquez has ridden three times with two wins. The other time Velazquez rode came on a sloppy track, in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes in June, his only poor race since March. It is important to note that Velazquez chose Willy D’s over Star and Stripes. If Willy D’s runs as well as he did in his last race, he is the horse to beat, and his odds start at 8 to 1.

Stars and Stripes (8) is likely to be the favorite because he just finished second to Forever Young, the likely Breeders’ Cup Classic Stakes favorite in one week. His last race earned a 114 figure, similar to Willy D’s and others. His last win came one race back in August when he won the Birdstone Stakes, which is not a graded stakes. He also won in April in the Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland at this distance. Both of his last two races earned 109 figures. However, Velazquez moves to Willy D’s. Stars and Stripes gets Luiz Saez, who rode him to his last three wins. Stars and Stripes has a perfect record of 3-for-3 at this distance, and his career record is 5-2-1 in 10 races. He must be used on exactas at the least.

Hit Show (1) won the Hagyard Fayette in 2025 and 2024. His record at Keeneland is 3 for 3, and his record at this nine-furlong distance is 5-2-1 for 14 races. However, he is now a six-year-old, and he has finished in the money but not won in his last four races. His last race was in February at the Mineshaft Stakes where he earned a 96 figure. His other three wins before the Mineshaft also earned 106, 108, and 108. He is a tough horse, but he will need one of his best efforts to win, but he could have a shot.

Win bets:

Willy D’s (11) at odds of 5 to 2 or higher.

Stars and Stripes (8), Hit Show (1) at odds of 3 to 1 or higher.

Exactas: Box Willy D’s (11), Stars and Stripes (8), Hit Show (1)