Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes comes our way from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky this Thursday, October 18. Horses three years old and upward will be after their share of the $100,000 purse when they go one and a half miles on Keeneland's turf tack.

A field of seven has been named for the Sycamore. It is race 8 on Keeneland's Thursday schedule with a post time of 4:49 PM. Here is a look at all seven entries and the past performances that brought them to this grade 3 race.

2012 Sycamore Stakes Race Favorites

Muskatier - Roger Attfield entry Muskatier is a multiple graded stakes winner. He finished a decent second behind 41-1 long shot Ioya Bigtime two in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington Park to follow up a win in the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes on June 24. Last time out was a disappointing sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf at Keeneland however. He has 11 wins in a whopping 49 career starts and has placed in three of five starts in 2012. Muskatier is experienced, is in good form at present and he should contend this Thursday.

Rahystrada has placed in all five starts in 2012 - three third place finishes including the Grade 1 Arlington Millions, a respectable third behind Turbo Compressor and Air Support in the Colonial Turf Cup, a win in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap on July 14 and a good second last time out in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes at Kentucky Downs September 15. Rahystrada is a multiple stakes winner and figures to be the one of the favorites in the Sycamore.

Sycamore Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Ioya Bigtime - started 2012 off slowly but enters the Sycamore as one of the hottest horses in the field - two wins in the last three starts. Last time out was a win at the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup to follow a second in the American St. Leger Stakes and a win in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington Park on July 14. Based on recent results, Ioya Bigtime could provide a serious challenge for the field Thursday and just may be the horse we are talking about Friday.

Kindergarden Kid - had a fifth and a sixth in a pair of graded stakes races to start 2012 but concentrated on Allowance Optional Claiming in four starts after that with a sixth, two seconds and a third place finish in those races for trainer Barclay Tagg. The last two starts have been graded stakes races and have provided a pair of decent thirds - at the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Invitational last time out and the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf before that.

Sycamore Stakes betting at Keeneland with OffTrackBetting.com

Canaveral - Brazilian bred gelding had success in Brazil but has not been the same on North American soil. Canaveral finished second in the Gleaming Stakes in his US debut last August and went on to a tenth in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes in September at Saratoga. In Canaveral's only start this year he was sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Saratoga on August 26.

Miami Deco - ended 2011 with scattered results - a decent third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes was followed by a fifteenth place finish in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes last October. Miami Deco has five starts this year - three straight Allowance races to start the year with a win, a second and a third place finish followed by an eighth in the Grade 1 Sky Classic and an Allowance score last time out here two weeks ago.

Seton Hall - has 17 career stars but Thursday marks his stakes debut. Seton Hall does enter in decent form - last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Kentucky Downs to follow a second in a similar race at Ellis Park August 11.

2012 Sycamore Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Keeneland's Thursday card with a Post Time of 4:49 PM.