Leofric Turns Back Prime Attraction in Fayette Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Leofric (outside) runs down Prime Attraction to win the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland
Steve Landers Racing's Leofric never raced at the 1 1/8-mile distance—or against grade 1 company—until his connections took a shot and entered him in the Sept. 1 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
The 5-year-old's hard-trying third after he showed the way in that test gave trainer Brad Cox the inclination to try him going as far again, and Leofric rewarded that faith Oct. 27 with a hard-fought victory in the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
"He's a horse that's obviously gotten better with age," Cox said. "He's a hard-trying horse, and he gives you what he's got every time. You can look at the (past performances) and see that. He's a phenomenal horse. He gives us what he has every single time."
With jockey Florent Geroux in the irons, the son of Candy Ride raced just off pacesetter Prime Attraction as that one put up fractions of :24.80, :48.97, and 1:12.74. When Geroux gave his mount the signal to advance, he met a determined foe in Prime Attraction, and the two hooked up in a battle through the stretch and a 1:37.20 mile.
"My horse is not really a frontrunner—he can be when he wants to—but he's very tactical," Geroux said. "He broke really sharp and put me in the right spot right away. From there, I just nursed him all the way around. He showed a lot of heart and a lot of fight down the stretch."
Leofric prevailed by a head and stopped the clock in 1:49.87.
"He fought and fought and fought and held them at bay," said Prime Attraction's jockey, Kent Desormeaux. "The winner was a little too tenacious and got control in the last hundred yards."
The win increased Leofric's earnings to $650,340 with his seventh victory in 13 starts. The Hagyard Fayette win marked Leofric's fourth victory in six starts this year. He has competed at five racetracks in 2018 and scored his first stakes victory two races ago in the Aug. 4 West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort.
Four lengths behind in third came 18-1 choice Nice Not Nice, who was followed by Hence, Rated R Superstar, slight favorite Hofburg, and Scuba to complete the order of finish.
Leofric was a $100,000 purchase by BSW Bloodstock agent Liz Crow from Lane's End's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.