Bryan Station may get crowded up front

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With only a handful of 3-year-old restricted graded stakes remaining this season, Keeneland provides an opportunity for the division on Saturday, and several promising sophomores are taking advantage.

With a scratch expected, a field of nine should go in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Bryan Station Stakes at a mile on the lawn. Four are stakes winners, and the other five are stakes-placed.

More Than Looks, winner of the Grade 3 Manila and the Jefferson Cup this year, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite. However, the colt also is pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the first on deck among alternates waiting to make the field. With several in the main body of the field holding first preference in other races, a spot in the Mile is likely, and trainer Cherie DeVaux said More Than Looks will scratch from the Bryan Station.

Talk of the Nation is likely to inherit favoritism for Shug McGaughey. The colt was second to More Than Looks in the Manila, then came back to win the Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs. Smokey Mandate, third in the Gun Runner, finished second to More Than Looks in the Jefferson Cup. Worthington was a closing third in that race.

Talk of the Nation and Smokey Mandate are both pace-pressing types, along with Dude N Colorado, a stakes winner earlier this year in Florida who is likely to be keen off a layoff; and the multiple graded stakes-placed Appraise, who finished ahead of third-place More Than Looks when second in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

:: Bet Keeneland with confidence! Get DRF PPs, Picks and more.

Their presence means that Grade 3 winner Mo Stash and Runaway Storm, third in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby last out, are not likely to have an easy time on the lead. Mo Stash is returning to the scene of some of his best races, including a front-running victory in the Grade 3 Transylvania at the spring meet. However, he was allowed to essentially lope along on the lead that day, a scenario that seems unlikely Saturday.

It also is unlikely that Talk of the Nation will get the sweet pace-pressing setup he did at Kentucky Downs, when he relaxed beautifully to the outside of Smokey Mandate while in the clear, which jockey Jose Ortiz cited as key. Talk of the Nation has drawn the rail in this group.

If a hot pace develops, it would be to the benefit of Gigante, who rallied for an upset win in the Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial Downs but then was sixth in the Virginia Derby. Worthington also will be coming on late.

Bowman Mill

In another age-restricted stakes on the card, several speedy 2-year-olds will meet in the $200,000 Bowman Mill Stakes going six furlongs on the main track. The lineup includes Normandy Hero and Royal Slipper, both eye-catching winners here opening weekend.

Normandy Hero, a maiden winner at Ellis Park, drove to a one-length win in an allowance/optional-claiming race Oct. 7, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 86, tied for the best in this field. The Rodolphe Brisset-trained son of freshman sire Omaha Beach is well-drawn on the rail to flash his speed under Alex Achard. Drawn next door to Normandy Hero in post 2 is Valentine Candy, the runner-up in that allowance who earned an 84 and will try to hang with him again.

Royal Slipper, a full brother to Grade 1-winning juvenile Bast, also should be flashing speed from post 3 for Wesley Ward.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

The only two prior stakes winners in this field are Glengarry and Sweet Soddy J. Sweet Soddy J, a minor stakes winner at Timonium, has been well-beaten in two outings since and is cross-entered at Remington Park.

Glengarry won both his starts at Prairie Meadows by a combined 18 1/2 lengths, including the Iowa Cradle. He earned a Beyer of 86 in that race to match the top number in this field and is intriguing as he picks up Luis Saez, who is vying for the leading rider title.

“He has done everything we have asked him to, and we are very excited about him,” trainer and co-owner Doug Anderson said. “He’s a good-looking colt with great demeanor and he has had no issues whatsoever. He’s never missed an oat.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.