Keeneland Diaries: Fabulous FallStars

October 9th, 2016 by Penelope Miller

Perfect fall weather greeted over 28,000 fans for FallStars Saturday at Keeneland. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Keeneland’s FallStars Saturday promised to be a fantastic afternoon of racing and fun with five major races lined up, including three Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events which guaranteed their victors a spot in horse racing’s World Championships on Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Saturday marked the final major day of prep races for the Breeders’ Cup, and some of the best Thoroughbreds on the planet had come to Kentucky to battle for a chance to compete in the World Championships.

I got to the track bright and early, anticipating an exciting day ahead of me; what I didn’t expect was to be met with a darkened Grandstand! Apparently one very destructive squirrel had met a major transformer, and the result was a power outage that included both Keeneland as well as Lexington’s airport. While it was an inauspicious start to FallStars Saturday, a good day a the track always includes a few unexpected hijinks, and after a brief delay of game the lights came back on and the crowds began rolling in and a sensational day of racing was ready to kick off.

The slideshow below will take you through my day at Keeneland on Saturday from morning to night; it was a spectacular afternoon, and I can’t wait to share my experience with you.

A brief power outage didn’t stop fans from arriving at Keeneland en masse; by the first race, the place was packed. In fact, the second-highest FallStars Saturday crowd of all time was recorded when 28,101 fans packed the track. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

The first major race of the afternoon was the Woodford Stakes. I was most excited to see international superstar Mongolian Saturday, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland last year in one of his many races all around the globe. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

And he didn’t disappoint: Mongolian Saturday shone in the Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select, winning by an easy half-length. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

As jockey Carlos Montalvo rode Mongolian Saturday into the winner’s circle, the duo wore matching grins. Carlos told me after the race that this is the best horse he’s ever ridden. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

And that was just the start of the major racing action throughout the afternoon; next up was the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the Filly and Mare Sprint. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Irish Jasper struck the lead in mid-stretch and never looked back. Jockey Julien Leparoux was wearing the silks of owner Lane’s End Farm, one of the most revered operations in the racing world. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Lane’s End owners Will and Sarah Farish walked hand-in-hand to the winner’s circle. It’s wonderful to know that no matter how established you are in this business, a major win at Keeneland is cause to celebrate! (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

And Julien Leparoux was delighted with the victory as well, giving Irish Jasper plenty of pats on the neck as they entered the winner’s circle to have their commemorative photo taken. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Then it was time for the race I was most excited for: the First Lady Stakes featuring “Queen of the Turf” Tepin. And I wasn’t alone: fans packed the rail of the saddling paddock to catch a glimpse of the famous mare before the race. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

After parading in the walking ring for a few minutes, assistant trainer Norm Casse gave jockey Julien Leparoux a leg up into Tepin’s saddle, and then the group headed toward the track to warm up for the First Lady. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

My heart was in my throat as Tepin warmed up in front of the packed house at Keeneland. The First Lady Stakes was the race last year that began Tepin’s winning streak; it would take a huge effort to win it again. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Moments later, it was time for the race to begin. The ten fillies and mares burst from the starting gate as one and raced each other to the first turn, with Photo Call leading the pack. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

As the ten Thoroughbreds raced down the backstretch, Keeneland’s crowd was on its feet to cheer hometown heroine Tepin as she tried for her ninth victory in a row. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

But when the horses rounded the turn for home, Photo Call was still in front, having established a massive and unhurried lead in the first half of the race. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

And though Tepin gave a mighty chase, Photo Call was still all alone in front when she crossed the finish line as the winner of the First Lady Stakes. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Jockey Kent Desormeaux looked justifiably proud of himself as he rode Photo Call to the winner’s circle; after all, his strategy of heading to the front and snatching an easy lead had paid off royally in the First Lady! (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

And Tepin? She was none the worse for wear after the First Lady, and she’ll still be a force to be reckoned with when the Breeders’ Cup comes around next month. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

There wasn’t a ton of time to reflect on the First Lady, though, since the very next race was another massive one: the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, a “Win and You’re In” test for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Since the twelve 2-year-old Thoroughbreds sprang from the starting gate right in front of the crowd, the roar from fans was tremendous as the race began. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

And while twelve horses left the starting gate as one, it was Classic Empire all alone at the finish line as he bested the rest to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Classic Empire, jockey Julien Leparoux, and owners Jack and Debby Oxley all looked delighted as they entered the winner’s circle. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

I would have been tickled, too – after all, they’d just won a major race, a free trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and a ten points toward the 2017 Kentucky Derby with the Breeders’ Futurity victory. Not too shabby! (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Then it was time for the final major race of the afternoon: the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile, a “Win and You’re In” test for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. As the horses warmed up, a beautiful golden light engulfed the Keeneland grandstand. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

I had my eye on Miss Temple City. I’ll admit it: I’ll always root for a filly facing the boys, and I have tremendous respect for her trainer Graham Motion and her jockey Edgar Prado. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

When the Shadwell Turf Mile began, the Thoroughbreds vied for position heading into the first turn. Edgar Prado searched for running room aboard Miss Temple City as Pleuven established an early lead. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

A lap around the track later, Miss Temple City fended off a fast-closing Ironicus to win the Shadwell Turf Mile and secure her position in the starting gate in next month’s Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Jockey Edgar Prado looked so proud of Miss Temple City as they posed for their winner’s circle photo; after all, the pair were not favored to win the race, and their victory was well-earned. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

When the commemorative photo had been taken, Edgar dismounted and exchanged celebratory hugs with his friends surrounding Miss Temple City on the ground. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

The Shadwell Turf Mile win earned Miss Temple City earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Wouldn’t it be something if the two favorites in the Nov. 5 championship race were fillies – if she and Tepin both compete? (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

It was a fun hypothetical to ponder as the sun set of the final race of Keeneland’s FallStars Saturday. Although the day was over, the Breeders’ Cup is still ahead of us. As the saying goes: the best is yet to come! (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)