Focus Group to Face 10 in Keeneland's Sycamore Stakes
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Focus Group in his stall at Woodbine
Grade 2 winner Focus Group was not able to make up enough ground to catch jet-setting Old Persian in the Sept. 14 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine, but the third-place effort was an improved one after finishing off the board in his three previous starts.
The 5-year-old son of Kitten's Joy will look to build on that effort while receiving a bit of class relief Oct. 17 at Keeneland. He heads an expected field of 11 in the $150,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and older.
After winning the John's Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in August 2018, Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Focus Group has run exclusively in graded stakes. He closed last year with his first grade 1 placing in the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T), then returned in late March at Gulfstream Park to rally for a nose score in the 1 1/2-mile Pan American Stakes (G2T).
Up against some of the best East Coast turf males—though kept away from Chad Brown stablemate Bricks and Mortar, who is campaigned by the same owners—Focus Group did not show the same kick in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T), United Nations Stakes (G1T), or Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) but overcame a pinched start to finish 2 1/2 lengths behind multiple grade/group 1 winner Old Persian in the Northern Dancer Turf. Focus Group was a nose away from second behind Nessy.
Focus Group will carry 125 pounds in Thursday's Sycamore and break from post 5 with Jose Ortiz in the irons. The lone 3-year-old, Changi, was assigned 118 pounds, and the other nine received 121 pounds.
The other graded scorer on turf in the Sycamore is Runnymede Racing's Postulation, winner of the American St. Leger Stakes (G3T) two summers back. The 7-year-old Harlan's Holiday gelding was transferred to Michael Matz last fall. He returned from an eight-month layoff to win the Aug. 31 Presious Passion Stakes at Monmouth Park, then crossed the wire third—beaten a head—in the Sept. 28 Japan Turf Cup Stakes at Laurel Park. He was disqualified to fifth in the Japan Turf Cup for drifting in on a foe. Both races were at 1 1/2 miles.
Looking to get back in the winner's circle are multiple grade 3 winners My Boy Jack and Blended Citizen. Both 4-year-old colts last won during last year's Triple Crown prep races.
My Boy Jack won the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park and the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) on Keeneland's main track. At 2, he won the Zuma Beach Stakes on turf at Santa Anita Park. He raced at the Sycamore distance for the first time in his previous start, finishing fifth in the Sept. 7 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs.
Blended Citizen, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Turfway Park's synthetic track and the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) on Belmont Park's dirt, was sixth in the Kentucky Turf Cup.
Keeneland, Thursday, October 17, 2019, Race 8Entries: Sycamore S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Changi (LA)
Sophie Doyle
118
Jeanne Marie Dolan
50/1
2
2Midnight Tea Time (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
121
Joe Sharp
8/1
3
3Space Mountain (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
121
Michael J. Maker
12/1
4
4Nakamura (MD)
Javier Castellano
121
H. Graham Motion
7/2
5
5Focus Group (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
125
Chad C. Brown
8/5
6
6Postulation (KY)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
121
Michael R. Matz
7/2
7
7My Boy Jack (KY)
James Graham
121
J. Keith Desormeaux
12/1
8
8Blended Citizen (KY)
Joe Bravo
121
Doug F. O'Neill
15/1
9
9Zumurudee (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
121
Michael Stidham
15/1
10
10Marzo (KY)
Florent Geroux
121
Michael J. Maker
15/1
11
11Golden Dragon (KY)
Rayan Gazader
121
Mikhail Yanakov
50/1
