Pick of the Litter splits horses in winning Fayette Stakes

Lexington, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Pick of the Litter, ridden by Corey Lanerie, came off the rail and split horses down the stretch to capture Saturday’s $200,000 Fayette Stakes on Keeneland’s closing 2014 program.

Owned by Crossed Sabres Farm, Pick of the Litter broke sharply from the inside post in the 1 1/8-mile race. The 4-year-old chestnut colt, trained by Dale Romans, settled into fifth in the eight-horse field.

Taking the lead at the top of the stretch was 2-1 co-favorite Departing with 7-1 Pick of the Litter still along the rail. Lanerie moved his mount off the rail nearing the wire and split Departing and co-favorite Long River.

Pick of the Litter squeezed past his rivals and hit the finish a head in front of Departing with Long River third and Code West fourth.

Pick of the Litter notched his first career stakes win and pocketed $120,000. The colt has banked $392,662 with five wins and four seconds in 18 lifetime starts.

The 4-year-old was coming off a fourth in Churchill Downs’ Homecoming Classic four weeks ago. In his only other 2014 stakes race he was also fourth in the Monmouth Cup.

Pick of the Litter returned $16.60, $7.00 and $4.20. Departing paid $3.40 and $2.60, and Long River paid $3.00 to show.

Categorized in: Horses