Sleepy Eyes Todd Wins Injury-Marred Lafayette Stakes
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Sleepy Eyes Todd rallies to victory in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland
A fatal breakdown created a somber scene before the Breeders' Cup action kicked off Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Absolutely Aiden, who chased the pace in the $150,000 Lafayette Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select, injured his left front leg at the head of the stretch, unseating jockey Chris Landeros and leading to a chain reaction that dislodged David Cohen and Tyler Gaffalione on trailing horses. The two other horses that unseated their riders, Strike That and Dinar, appeared to avoid significant injury while trying to avoid the fallen horse and rider. All jockeys cleared medical evaluation after their falls.
Absolutely Aiden left the track in the horse ambulance, and Keeneland later announced he was euthanized. The breakdown of the 4-year-old colt trained by Wes Hawley and owned by Hawley and Greg Frye followed last year's tragedy at Santa Anita Park in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) when Mongolian Saturday was put down after suffering a catastrophic injury in the stretch.
"Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup are saddened by the death of Absolutely Aiden and offer our condolences to his connections," read a statement issued by Keeneland. "Throughout the fall meet and leading up to the World Championships, we have worked together and with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, a team of top equine veterinarians, and racing surface experts to ensure every measure was in place to provide our athletes the safest conditions possible."
Knifing his way through traffic surrounding the incident, favored Sleepy Eyes Todd rallied under Joel Rosario to post a 1 1/2-length victory over True Timber. Edgemont Road was third.
The winner, a 4-year-old son of Paddy O'Prado owned by Thumbs Up Racing and trained by Miguel Angel Silva, raced seven furlongs in 1:21.77. He paid $10.
Bred in Kentucky by Two Hearts Farm and Kristen Goncharoff, Sleepy Eyes Todd was a $9,000 weanling purchase by Jonathan Wong from Legacy Bloodstock's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. He is the second stakes winner out of the unraced Wild Rush mare Pledge Mom.
Sleepy Eyes Todd won the Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2) in August and now has earnings of $687,165.
The Lafayette brought a change in style from Sleepy Eyes Todd, who came from far behind after winning the Charles Town Classic on the lead when racing 1 1/8 miles. He also sparred early in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) in his most recent start at Santa Anita before fading to fifth behind Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contenders Improbable and Maximum Security .
The win was his third of the year from seven starts. His record now stands at 7-for-14.