Betting with, and against, Independence Hall in the Fayette Stakes

An excellent field of nine will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Keeneland main strip in Saturday’s $200,000 Fayette S. (G2).

Morning-line choice #5 Independence Hall (5-2) will make his third start off the layoff in his Keeneland debut for conditioner Mike McCarthy. The classy son of Constitution has been knocking heads with some of the better horses in training over the past two campaigns, and the four-year-old could be peaking while making just his third start since the spring.

The Kentucky-bred colt was a strong runner-up behind the mighty Knicks Go most recently in his second performance since adding blinkers, and he is training well in advance of his local bow. Independence Hall has good awareness from the gate and figures to receive a favorable trip from near the pace from the start on Saturday. Javier Castellano will be in the stirrups.

A deep and accomplished cast awaits the favorite, however. Multiple Grade 1 victor #7 Code of Honor (3-1) has put in a pair of very good races since returning off a long absence and seems poised for a big result in this spot. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the five-year-old son of Noble Mission has been a high-class performer dating back to his juvenile campaign and he exits a useful fourth in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga last time out. He will be imposing with his best effort beneath Tyler Gaffalione.

#1 Sleep Eyes Todd (3-1) was a game second in the Charles Town Classic (G2) last out and showed an affinity for Keeneland when annexing the 2020 Lafayette S. on the oval. The versatile six-year-old can run from up close or well off of the early tempo, but he draws well on the rail and lands in a spot with a lack of confirmed front runners. The Miguel Angel Silva pupil might be sent from the start in his second local outing by Ry Eikleberry.

Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) fourth #4 Night Ops (6-1), Lexington S. (G3) star #6 King Fury (9-2), and the peaking #8 Fort Peck (20-1), runner-up in the Kelso H. (G2) in his second race off the claim, will also be included in my plays.

Independence Hall - With

• $2 trifecta key 5 with 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 ($40)
• 50-cent superfecta key 5 with 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 ($30)

Independence Hall - Against

• $1 trifecta 1, 7 with 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 with 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ($40)
• 20-cent superfecta 1, 6, 7 with 1, 6, 7 with 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 with 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ($24)