While some of his other stablemates prepare for bids in the Breeders' Cup, Hit Show took center stage for the Brad Cox barn Oct. 26 with a determined score in the $350,000 Fayette Stakes (G2). The win gave Cox his unprecedented fifth consecutive Keeneland fall meet title.
Cox runners won 14 races, five more than trainer Rodolphe Brisset.
The accomplishment was not lost on Cox, who had eclipsed his own standards this October by setting a Keeneland record for the most stakes victories by a trainer in a single meet when Chop Chop landed the Oct. 20 Dowager Stakes (G3T). Hit Show's Fayette win takes Cox's stakes win tally for the meet to six.
"It means a lot to (get the title at Keeneland)," Cox said. "We're a Kentucky-based operation. It means a lot to us. I feel like our 2-year-olds start coming into their own this time of year. We'd like them to come a little bit earlier but I feel like our 2-year-olds start clicking here and I feel like our older horses really showed up to run well here as well."
Among Cox's star pupils for the fall meet was Idiomatic, taking her second straight Spinster Stakes (G1), and 2-year-old filly Immersive's win in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) on opening day.
"It's been a great meet all around," Cox said. "I want to thank Keeneland for the show they put it on and I'm just happy to be a part of it."
Hit Show registered his second stakes win for new owner, Wathnan Racing, who acquired the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride from breeders Mary and Gary West following his victory in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.
Sent postward as the 3-5 favorite, odds undoubtedly bolstered by the scratches of Breeders' Cup-bound Tumbarumba and Rattle N Roll, Hit Show was in no hurry early as 28-1 longshot Bolzy gunned for the lead under Frankie Dettori. Taking advantage of a track that has been playing toward a speed bias all meet long, Bolzy clipped along uncontested through fractions of :23.49, :47.46, and 1:12.09 while Hit Show raced in sixth of eight. Shouldering past rivals around the turn, Hit Show set off at a relentless rally at the top of the stretch and ran down a dogged Bolzy to the wire.
Hit Show ($3.58), ridden by Florent Geroux, finished on top by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:50.33 for the 1 1/8-miles.
Three-year-old Uno Mas Bourbon completed the trifecta.
"(Hit Show has) trained well throughout the summer and fall though and it showed—he's rolled off three straight now," Cox said. "He's a good colt. He's made over a million dollars and he's a multiple graded stakes winner. I'm proud of what he was able to accomplish today."
Cox said the Nov. 29 Clark Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs would likely be the next "logical" start for Hit Show, with a possible bid in the Middle East on deck for next year.
Hit Show, out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Actress, has already shown a fondness for Churchill, having won the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) in September after winning his 2024 debut under the twin spires in an allowance contest.
Video: Hagyard Fayette S. (G2)
Keeneland Wraps Record Fall Meet
Keeneland concluded its 2024 fall meet with a season-record all-sources wagering of $210 million boosted by record purse money that attracted full fields featuring the nation's top trainers, jockeys, and horses. In an uncharacteristic fall for Kentucky, there wasn't a wet day for a single day of the 17-day meet.
"The fall meet was exceptional," Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. "The class and quality of the horses and riders competing here are truly special, and we appreciate the tremendous support from our owners and trainers who make the choice to race with us. Blue skies and sunshine on each and every race day added to the atmosphere, showcasing all that is special about the Bluegrass. We thank our horsemen and our fans for their loyal support and are excited to share the new Paddock Building with everyone this time next year."
All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) this fall totaled a record $210,165,945, besting the previous record of $208,907,655 set during the 2022 fall meet and marking an increase of 4.06% over last fall's $201,966,111.
On-track wagering of $16,597,162 increased 2.01% from last year's $16,270,885.
Average daily purses were a Keeneland record $1,250,834 this fall and attracted full fields that averaged 9.6 starters per race.
While Cox swept the training title, Tyler Gaffalione and Godolphin took the jockey and owner titles, respectively.
Gaffalione, who partnered East Avenue and Carl Spackler to grade 1 triumphs in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), wracked up 24 wins for the fall meet. This was his fifth time winning the fall meet title and his eighth overall rider title at Keeneland.
Godolphin took home their sixth Keeneland title, and third fall meet title in the last four years. The powerhouse outfit's grade 1 winners at the meet included the Cox-trained Immersive and East Avenue.
