Mocito Rojo Tries for Sixth Straight Win in Fayette

Wayne Davis' Mocito Rojo has never been favored to win a stakes race, but the former $10,000 claim should prove popular Oct. 26 at Keeneland, where he'll face nine other horses in the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2).

The 1 1/8-mile feature on the main track highlights the 10-race card that closes out the Lexington oval's fall meet.

Mocito Rojo was picked up by Louisiana-based trainer Shane Wilson in a maiden claiming event in December 2016, and the 5-year-old son of Mutadda enters the Fayette off five consecutive wins, four black type. Last out he fended off multiple graded stakes winner Silver Dust to take the Sept. 28 Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs, leaving him just a few thousand dollars shy of $800,000 in earnings.

Mocito Rojo won his graded debut in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) in late April at Lone Star Park. He's made two previous starts at 1 1/8 miles, including the Lukas Classic, and won both. The Fayette will be the Keeneland debut for both Mocito Rojo and his Louisiana-bred jockey Filemon Rodriguez.

Listed stakes winner Big Dollar Bill and grade 2 scorer Tenfold, fifth and eighth, respectively, in the Lukas Classic, are also back in the Fayette.

Returning from a different race on that same Sept. 28 Churchill Downs card is Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze, who finished strong in his second start off a seven-month layoff to win the one-mile Ack Ack Stakes (G3). The 4-year-old To Honor and Serve colt won his first stakes in the 2018 West Virginia Derby (G3), which he romped by eight lengths.

Mr Freeze is one of two for trainer Dale Romans, the other being Calumet Farm's 3-year-old Everfast. The Take Charge Indy  colt, who was second in the Preakness Stakes (G1), last ran 12th in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Shipping in from Peter Eurton's West Coast barn is Gary Broad's Core Beliefs. The 4-year-old Quality Road  colt opened this year with a win in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The Fayette will mark his first race since finishing fourth after a bobbled start in the July 20 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar.

Aug. 31 Woodward Stakes (G1) respective second- and fourth-place finishers Bal Harbour and Tom's d'Etat are entered for their first race back since the Spa's last main event for older dirt horses. Both are multiple stakes winners still looking to break through in graded company.

Completing the field is The Great Day, winner of the Sept. 28 Durham Cup (G3) on Woodbine's Tapeta surface and a multiple grade 1 winner in his native Argentina, and Own Agenda, entered for his stakes debut.

Entries: Hagyard Fayette S. (G2)

Keeneland, Saturday, October 26, 2019, Race 9

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1The Great Day (ARG)	Corey J. Lanerie	121	Arnaud Delacour	20/1
2	2Mr Freeze (KY)	Robby Albarado	121	Dale L. Romans	7/2
3	3Tom's d'Etat (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	2/1
4	4Everfast (KY)	Miguel Mena	118	Dale L. Romans	20/1
5	5Mocito Rojo (KY)	Filemon T. Rodriguez	123	Shane Wilson	6/1
6	6Tenfold (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	121	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
7	7Core Beliefs (KY)	Joseph Talamo	123	Peter Eurton	8/1
8	8Bal Harbour (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	121	Todd A. Pletcher	7/2
9	9Own Agenda (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Cherie DeVaux	30/1
10	10Big Dollar Bill (KY)	Chris Landeros	121	Ian R. Wilkes	12/1