CT: 2-year-olds take center stage in McKee, Mercer * The Racing Biz

CT: 2-year-olds take center stage in McKee, Mercer

Farrior, Runco have leading contenders

The Biz
September 17, 2026

Trainer Anthony Farrior will send out three runners in a pair of $75,000 stakes for West Virginia-bred 2-year-olds this weekend at Charles Town, led by sharp maiden winner Crystal Veil in Friday night’s John McKee Memorial.

The 4½-furlong McKee, restricted to fillies, is followed Saturday by the Henry Mercer Memorial at the same distance. Both are carded as the seventh race with a scheduled post time of 10:02 p.m.

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Crystal Veil and stablemate Kickin’ With Caity give Farrior two chances in the McKee. The pair met in an August 14 maiden special weight, with Crystal Veil controlling the race from the outset and drawing off to win by 4¾ lengths. Kickin’ With Caity finished third, 10 lengths behind her stablemate.

Crystal Veil, a daughter of Authentic owned by Fuzzy Whiz LLC and James F. Miller, has continued to train forwardly at Laurel Park. She worked four furlongs in 47.20 seconds September 7, the fastest of eight works at the distance.

*Two-year-old Call Me Micky J. won at first asking. Photo by The Racing Biz.*

Jeiron Barbosa has the return mount from post number two.

“I couldn’t be happier going in this race,” Farrior said. “She kind of got lonely last time out on the lead. Barbosa said [she was] looking around a little bit, but this race will be a little tougher.”

Her principal rival may be On a Pedestal, who won at first asking for trainer Stacey Viands September 10. The Dialed In filly pressed the early pace and drew clear by 3½ lengths, completing 4½ furlongs in 52.88 seconds. That was one-tenth of a second faster than Crystal Veil’s winning time.

“I think Stacey Viands’ horse looks pretty nice,” Farrior said. “If she runs her race, she’ll be tough and she’ll be hard to beat.”

Kickin’ With Caity, a Farrior homebred by Vekoma, will have leading rider Arnaldo Bocachica aboard. Farrior said the filly was not fully prepared for her debut and had trouble handling kickback while racing behind Crystal Veil.

“She learned a lot in that last race,” he said. “She’s trained well. I think she’ll put in a good performance. I don’t think she’s as good as the other one, but she’ll be closer this time than she was last time.”

The McKee field also includes A Notable Nature, runner-up to Crystal Veil in their August meeting, along with three first-time starters.

Farrior’s Mercer entrant, Hundley, will make his career debut against six rivals Saturday. The Army Mule colt, owned by Conroy Thoroughbreds LLC, signaled his readiness with a bullet four-furlong gate work in 47.80 seconds September 12 at Charles Town that was the fastest of 28 at the distance.

“He’s talented,” Farrior said. “He’s worked really fast out of the gate. He breaks fast. Hopefully, he breaks, and we’ll see what we got.”

Hundley faces a perhaps more accomplished group headed by Calvin’s Run and Jack Carson, a pair of debut winners trained by Jeff Runco. Calvin’s Run earned a field-best 55 Beyer Speed Figure when he won by 1½ lengths August 14, while Jack Carson prevailed by three lengths in his July 24 unveiling.

Call Me Micky J brings the most varied résumé. He won his Laurel Park debut in May before facing open stakes company at Churchill Downs and Colonial Downs. He shortens up after fading in the 1 1/16-mile Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf.

Also entered is Conejo Dorado, who crossed the wire first by 10½ lengths going 6½ furlongs August 29 but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference. He returned September 11 to earn an official maiden victory at the Mercer distance. Pedro’s Fancy Man, promoted to victory following Conejo Dorado’s disqualification, has finished first or second in three consecutive starts.