Sycamore Stakes 2014 at Keeneland

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes is on tap for this Thursday, October 16 from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. Horses three years old and upward will be featured as they go 1 1/2 miles on Keeneland's turf track searching for the winner's share of the $100,000 purse.

A field of nine marathoners have been confirmed for the Sycamore - race 8 on Keeneland's Thursday card. Post time is 4:42 PM. Here is a glimpse into the past performances of all nine entries for this mid-week Grade 3 stakes.

2014 Sycamore Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Unitarian 3-1 - Todd Pletcher trained colt raced in stakes company for the first time in February and finished a disappointing seventh in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap but bounced back last time out with a nice win at 18-1 odds in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes on this track way back in April. Before that were two Allowance Optional Claiming scores at Gulfstream in the winter. He has four wins, three seconds and four third place finishes in 15 career starts and has won three of his last four starts. Javier Castellano has the call aboard the morning line favorite and 125 pound top weight from the outside post in Unitarian's first race in six months.

Red Rifle 4-1 - another Todd Pletcher trained gelding has four wins and three seconds in 11 career starts and enters off a win in the minor Yankee Affair Stakes at Keeneland September 6 after finishing second in consecutive Allowance Optional Claiming races - the last being August 7. He did win the minor Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston in March but has failed to place in his only two graded stakes starts thus far. He has been steadily improving and will leave from gate 4 with John Velazquez in the saddle of the morning line second choice.

Sycamore Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Tricky Hat 5-1 - Chilean born Shug McGaughey trained gelding hadn't looked good before a nice win in the minor John's Call Stakes at Saratoga August 6 - a result that was followed by a fifth last time out in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes September 13. Before his minor stakes score was an ugly fourteenth in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes after a fifth in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes in April on this track. He has 16 career starts with five wins, a second and four third place finishes. Tricky Hat will look to cure his inconsistent ways with Jose Ortiz aboard the co-third choice from post 2.

Aldous Snow 5-1 - Malcolm Pierce trainee enters off a disappointing sixth place finishes in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine September 14 and the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes on that same track August 16 after a two race win streak - the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes at this distance ahead of Perfect Timber and Forte Dei Marmi July 6 and an Allowance Optional Claiming in June. Aldous Snow has 22 career starts with four wins, five seconds and two third place finishes but has failed to place in his last two starts overall. He hopes to bounce back from any ugly couple of efforts with Julien Leparoux in the saddle from post 8.

Villandry 6-1 - has 16 career starts with four wins, a second and a third place finish for trainer Charles LoPresti - one win and a second place finish in five starts this year. He is coming off a decent fourth in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes September 14 after a fifth in the minor Lure Stakes at Saratoga August 2, an OK fourth in the Grade 2 Firecracker Stakes at Churchill Downs in June, a second in the minor Opening Verse Stakes in May and an Allowance Optional Claiming score also in May. Villandry has yet to place in four graded stakes starts but hopes to take the next step with Shaun Bridgmohan in the reins from gate 5.

Sycamore Stakes betting online at Keeneland with OffTrackBetting.com

Holiday Star 6-1 - H Graham Motion trained gelding has 12 career starts with three wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He has a win, two seconds and a third in his last four starts overall - consecutive seconds ahead of this weekend including the minor PTHA President's Cup Stakes at Parx September 13 and behind Tricky Hat in the minor John's Call Stakes August 6 which followed a third in the minor Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park July 12 and an Allowance score in May. His only two graded stakes results were a ninth and an eighth place finish back in 2013. Holiday Star has seemed to find a home at longer distances on turf and leaves from post 3 with Rosie Napravnik in the saddle.

Mister Marti Gras 8-1 - Chris Block trained gelding has 41 career starts with 10 wins, 11 seconds and five third place finishes - a win, a second and a third place finish in six starts this year. He was at his best in 2011 when he won a pair of Grade 3 races and has been OK Since. Last time out was a third in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap August 30 after a fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, an Allowance Optional Claiming score in June and a good second in the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup in May. He has placed in 11 of his last 14 starts overall and will have Florent Geroux guiding him from post 6 Thursday.

St. Albans Boy 10-1 - has nine career starts with three wins and a third place finish - two straight Allowance scores this past summer followed an OK third in the minor Laurel Turf Cup September 27. He makes his graded stakes debut Thursday with Angel Serpa in the reins from the rail.

Cozy Kitten 20-1 - is coming off an ugly eighth in the Kentucky Turf Cup September 13 which followed a Claiming score at Saratoga August 16 and a third in a similar race at Saratoga August 3. His last graded stakes start resulted in an eighth in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida in February. Cozy Kitten has 12 starts in 2014 already with two wins and three third place finishes and isn't expected to do much. Rafael Manuel Hernandez has the mount from post 7.

2014 Sycamore Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Keeneland's Thursday card with a Post Time of 4:42 PM.