2022 Fayette Stakes Cheatsheet

By TwinSpires Editorial Team, Sponsored Content

By Vance Hanson (TwinSpires.com)

1. WEST WILL POWER (4-1) – The first of two from Brad Cox, he’s an intriguing candidate as one of few in the field with any real speed, plus is well drawn to show it; second last season in the Philip H. Iselin (G3) to subsequent Fayette runner-up Code of Honor, he’s turned in two fine performances since joining the barn; recent bullet work in company with stablemate and rival Fulsome, and pick-up of Rosario, are other things to like.

2. CHESS CHIEF (10-1) – Aging veteran has placed only once in six outings this year, and general margins of defeat all season make him hard to endorse in this spot; more crucially, he’s never won outside Fair Grounds; looking elsewhere.

3. FULSOME (3-1) – Owns a quartet of G3 wins over the past couple of seasons and lone prior start over this track, an N1X allowance during the 2021 spring meet, was a strong piece of work; willing to overlook flat effort in the Ack Ack (G3) last time as it was a one-turn event, and he’s clearly more effective around two turns; limited amount of pace on paper, outside stablemate West Will Power, is of some concern, but class has enabled him to overcome similar circumstances in the past.

4. FIRST CAPTAIN (6-5) – Multiple graded scorer has thrown only one clunker in his career and enters with form that makes him the one to beat; although he had to work a bit to pull off the Pimlico Special (G3), he didn’t have much help up front, and subsequent efforts in the Suburban (G2) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) were strong, given who he was facing; main concern is there isn’t a lot of pace here and he might prefer slightly longer now, but otherwise all signs look good.

5. KING FURY (8-1) – The well-beaten favorite in this race a year ago as a three-year-old and winless since, though seems to be rounding back into better form after missing the late spring and early summer; no shame in chasing the likes of Hot Rod Charlie and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike last time, and his Lexington (G3) win a year and a half ago remains a sparkling piece of local work; still, doesn’t seemed to have quickened all that much with age and this field about on par with last year’s Fayette group.

6. LAST SAMURAI (6-1) – Upset winner of the Oaklawn H. (G2) back in April when taking advantage of a race that otherwise had no pace, but has generally struggled to replicate that form since moving to the Lukas barn; three turns at Charles Town perhaps not his cup of tea last time, but try at Ellis two back very good considering how fast he pressed the leaders most of the way; form outside Oaklawn, though, has been below what will be required to win this.