Parading grand marshals 10-horse Fayette

The Keeneland fall meet concludes on Halloween Saturday with the $150,000

Fayette

S. (G2), which has attracted just about every sort for the nine-furlong

journey. Ostensibly a race for the region's leading older males, this year's

renewal also includes a dash of youth with a pair of up-and-coming

three-year-olds, and a Grade 2-winning mare.

The logical favorite is PARADING (Pulpit), who turned in a one-horse show

when capturing the Ben Ali S. (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths over the same course and

distance back in April. The Phipps Stable colorbearer next moved to the grass to

take the Dixie S. (G2) at Pimlico, but hopes of him becoming a viable Breeders'

Cup Classic (G1) candidate ended after a poor fifth as the favorite in the

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and subsequent losses in both the Pacific Classic (G1)

and Goodwood S. (G1). He was defeated by less than two lengths in both when

fourth in the latter two, and might simply prefer Polytrack over other synthetic

compositions.

The sophomore set is led by BLAME (Arch), who captured a maiden at Keeneland

a year ago and has developed into a promising candidate for next year's older

male division. After missing the classics, the Al Stall Jr. pupil knocked out a

first-level allowance in his second start of the season before taking the Curlin

S. at Saratoga. Last time, he was a strong second to the loose-on-the-lead Regal

Ransom (Distorted Humor) in the Super Derby (G2). Blame can follow in the

hoofsteps of his sire, Arch, who won this race in 1998.

GIANT OAK (Giant's Causeway), the Arlington Classic winner, failed to live up

to his early promise on grass during the summer, but fared well in his return to

dirt last time when a late-charging second in the Indiana Derby (G2). It was the

third Grade 2-placing for the Illinois-bred, who romped by five lengths in his

only prior attempt on Polytrack.

The Fayette has attracted a quartet who has accounted for many of the major

main-track stakes contested at Keeneland since Polytrack was installed. JADE'S

REVENGE (Quiet American) is a past winner of the Ben Ali and Fort Harrod S.,

while WICKED STYLE (Macho Uno) landed the 2007 Breeders' Futurity (G1) in the

same year that DOMINICAN (El Corredor) scored in the Blue Grass S. (G1). The

latter, who worked a bullet half-mile on Tuesday, attempts to improve on his

second to Ball Four (Grand Slam) in last year's Fayette.

The rest of the male contingent includes PUBLIC SPEAKER (Distorted Humor),

who is four-for-five on Polytrack and enters off back-to-back scores in the Sea

O' Erin H. and Robert F. Carey Memorial H.; MEDJOOL (Moncarchos), whose most

noted performance during the past year was a second to Gio Ponti (Tale of the

Cat) in last December's Sir Beaufort S. (G3) over Pro-Ride; and the minor stakes

winner NATIONAL PRIDE (Macho Uno), who makes his synthetic debut on Saturday for

Darley Stable.

The lone mare in the race is TIZFIZ (Tiznow), who finished in midpack in the

Spinster S. (G1) three weeks ago. Upset winner of the San Gorgonio H. (G2) on

turf in January, she entered the Spinster off consecutive grass stakes wins at

Mountaineer Park and Remington Park, and beat males in the latter locale.

Previous female winners of the Fayette were Old Hat, who was named champion

older mare for a second time after she won in 1965, and Chou Croute, who was

named champion sprinter following her score in 1972.