The final day of the 2026 Fall Meet at Keeneland is upon us with racing in the Blue Grass State moving to Churchill Downs tomorrow. Of course, thoroughbred racing returns to Lexington for the Breeders’ Cup next weekend, but other than the two-day event for the world’s best, this is horseplayers final chance this year to wager on the popular Kentucky-based venue. The card is headlined by a pair of Grade 3 events and all pools must go. Here are my thoughts on the two stakes, as well as a first-time starter that kicks off the final Pick 4 of the meet. A $12K carryover in the Race 10 Super Hi 5 wager must go today.
Race 7:
I am not in love with the ML favorites in this 5.5-furlong event for 2YO fillies over the main track. 7-2-top choice #4 Light Halo holds the experience edge over many of her rivals, but tired with little excuse in Louisville in her September debut. Her trainer Brad Cox is having an extremely slow meet by his standards and this daughter of City of Light took virtually no public support in her first start. She is likely to be an underlay, as is #10 Joyful Flight. The Flightline firster debuts for a barn that is just 1 for 14 with 2YOs debuting in sprints in Kentucky over the last three years. I will try to beat them both with #6 French Sand. The Omaha Beach filly is out of a Broken Vow mare that has already produced a pair of winners at first asking and attracts Jose Ortiz. The Eddie Kenneally trainee should be a decent price and hopefully is live out of the box in a race where those that have competed thus far have for the most part underwhelmed.
Play: #6 French Sand (6-1 ML)
Picks: 6-8-3
Race 8: Fayette (G3)
This 1 1/8-mile event over the main track drew an oversubscribed field led by last year’s winner #1 Hit Show. The son of Candy Ride is a perfect 3 for 3 over this track and is closing in on $10M in earnings, but is winless over his last four starts and might not get the setup he needs to be at his best. I am hopeful the pace is moderate since that is likely to benefit my top choice #11 Willy D’s. #7 Gearing Up projects to set the early tempo in this year’s Fayette, but Willy D’s should be right where he wants to be in the early stages. The son of Lookin At Lucky comes in off a two-month freshening by trainer Mike Maker after his gate-to-wire score in the Charlestown Classic. He will need to avoid a wide voyage throughout under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, but enters his first local try having won 3 of 4. He should fire big once again assuming the pace is not too quick early.
Play: #11 Willy D’s (8-1 ML)
Picks: 11-8-2
Race 9: Bryan Station
This one-mile event for 3YOs over the Keeneland grass is the final stakes race of the meeting and is led by a trio of colts that competed at Saratoga this summer. #7 Remember Mamba was made the slight ML favorite with #4 Bottas and #11 Touch of Fire expected to take their fair share of public support as well. I thought Remember Mamba had a chance to be a special 3YO turf horse after his first four starts, but the Kitten’s Joy colt has failed to move forward since then. Cherie DeVaux tries to wake him with the addition of blinkers. The equipment change could certainly do the trick, but I will watch one at his expected price. Bottas and Touch of Fire both also raced for the big bucks at Kentucky Downs in early September with Bottas getting the bulk of the 1.75M Gun Runner purse. Both are solid animals, but perhaps we saw their best already in 2026.
I am hopeful #13 Banksy’s draws in off the also eligible list for David Fawkes. The son of Paynter has done little wrong throughout his nine-race career but has taken a step forward since moving to the grass three starts back. He comes in on a three-race win streak after running down lone speed #8 Aces Honor at Churchill on September 25 and is hopefully set for one more big one to close out his 3YO campaign. If jockey Joel Rosario can angle over early to avoid a wide trip into the first turn, he should have a ton of horse late.
Play: #13 Banksy’s (8-1 ML)
Picks: 13-4-7
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