Sycamore Stakes 2024 Analysis

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 3, $300,000 Sycamore Stakes will be run at Keeneland on Friday, October 11, 2024. The eleven entrants will travel 1 1/2 miles on the turf course and 3-1 morning line favorite Bold Act won this race in 2023 and will try to work out a trip from the outside post under Luis Saez. The Grade 3 Sycamore goes as the ninth race on Friday with a scheduled post time of 5:16 p.m. EDT.

Sycamore Stakes Analysis (Top 4 Selections)

#10 Ohana Honor (7-2) should be forwardly placed under his new rider John Velazquez, and this race is lacking front end speed. He controlled the pace in a sharp wire-to-wire win at this course and distance in the spring, and he was competitive without winning in his last three graded turf routes. He hooked some tough company recently and is fast enough to win this.

#7 Tawny Port (6-1) is usually in the mix in these long distance turf races. He missed by a neck in four graded turf routes this year, and he reconnects with Irad Ortiz Jr. and might be able to get over the hump.

#4 Dataman (8-1) tries a longer distance for quality conditioner Graham Motion. He won back-to-back listed stakes on turf earlier this year and raced evenly in his last two graded outings. He might show a bit more from off the pace in his third start after a layoff.

#11 Bold Act (3-1) rallied for the win in this race last fall, and started 2024 with a Grade 2 victory in Dubai. He was the beaten favorite in the Elkhorn (G2) and Louisville (G3), and showed nice late interest in a show finish when last seen at Churchill in June. Charles Appleby has good stats with this type of layoff runner.

Sycamore Stakes Video