Only five three-year-olds have been entered for Sunday’s $100,000 Lafayette
S. (G3) at Keeneland, but the field does include stakes winners CRIMSON STAG
(Glitterman) and RAZOR (Concorde’s Tune).
Crimson Stag returns to the dirt in this spot after an off-the-board finish in
the grassy Gentilly H. at Fair Grounds. Prior to that, the Dallas Stewart
trainee posted wins in three consecutive stakes, including the 1 1/16-mile
Crescent City Derby. He ended his two-year-old campaign with a 3 1/2-length
score in the Louisiana Juvenile Championship S. going Sunday’s six-furlong
distance and will go as the 123-pound highweight under Robby Albarado.
Razor started off the year with a nice win in the Dixieland S. at Oaklawn
Park, then found himself facing Grade 1 winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) contender
Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) in the Mountain Valley S. The Steve
Asmussen-trained chestnut, who led for most of that event, was no match for the
winner at the end, but easily held second by 2 3/4 lengths. Razor will have John
Velazquez aboard while toting 119 pounds.
The complete Lafayette field, with riders and weights, is MORE SMOKE (Smoke
Glacken), Clinton Potts, 119; Crimson Stage; SILENT BID (Grand Slam), Gary
Stevens, 117; Razor; and MARINE SEAL (Military), Jorge Chavez, 117.