Photo:

Jessica Morgan / Eclipse Sportswire

Bold Act, a popular winner as the favorite in last year’s edition of the race in his U.S. debut, will face 10 rivals Friday, Oct. 11 in the 30th running of the $300,000 Sycamore (G3), a 1 1/2-mile grass test at Keeneland.

The Sycamore will go as the ninth race on the 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. EDT post time. First post is 1 p.m. EDT.

Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, Bold Act will be making his first start since the Chorleywood Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 15. Luis Saez has the mount and will exit post 11.

Chief among his rivals are the 2-3 finishers from last month’s Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs, Highway Robber and Tawny Port.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Highway Robber finished second at Kentucky Downs in his graded-stakes debut. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 3.

Fifth in the Sycamore last year, Tawny Port comes into this year’s race off a steady diet of Grade 2 and Grade 3 placings in 2024. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 7 for trainer Christophe Clement.

Post	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start / Next Start	Morn. Line
1		Verstappen War Front	6.12	Brendan P. Walsh Declan Cannon	9th, 2024 Kentucky Cup Classic G3	10-1
Last Race		9th, 2024 Kentucky Cup Classic G3
2		Cathkin Peak Alhebayeb	5.91	Michael J. Maker Frankie Dettori	6th, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2	15-1
Last Race		6th, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2
3		Highway Robber Hard Spun	6.23	Brian A. Lynch Tyler Gaffalione	2nd, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf G1	9-2
Last Race Next Race		2nd, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf G1
4		Dataman Tapit	5.09	H. Graham Motion Jorge Ruiz	4th, KD HCP (09/01/2024-R9)	8-1
Last Race		4th, KD HCP (09/01/2024-R9)
5		Always Above Honor Code	4.12	Michelle Nihei Gerardo Corrales	4th, KD ALW (09/05/2024-R3)	30-1
Last Race		4th, KD ALW (09/05/2024-R3)
6		Utah Beach English Channel	0.00	Ignacio Correas IV Jose L. Ortiz	4th, Aqu AlwOC (9/20/24-R2)	15-1
Last Race		4th, Aqu AlwOC (9/20/24-R2)
7		Tawny Port Pioneerof the Nile	6.58	Christophe Clement Irad Ortiz, Jr.	3rd, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2	6-1
Last Race		3rd, 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup G2
8		Big Blue Line Atreides	4.27	William Walden Luan Machado	8th, 2024 John Henry Turf Championship G2	30-1
Last Race		8th, 2024 John Henry Turf Championship G2
9		Sugoi Karakontie	5.91	Michael J. Maker Florent Geroux	5th, 2024 Arlington Million G1	10-1
Last Race		5th, 2024 Arlington Million G1
10		Ohana Honor Honor Code	6.53	Claude R. McGaughey III John R. Velazquez	4th, 2024 Bowling Green G2	7-2
Last Race		4th, 2024 Bowling Green G2
11		Bold Act New Approach	5.67	Charlie Appleby Luis Saez	3rd, 2024 Chorleywood Overnight LS	3-1
Last Race		3rd, 2024 Chorleywood Overnight LS