Hard to look beyond Bayerd in Clever Trevor

Bayerd has shown a good deal of talent in just three starts and will be a strong favorite Friday night in the $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington Park. The seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds is the final local prep for the $250,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 14.

Bayerd established himself as the best 2-year-old on the grounds in his last outing, when he proved a length best in the $75,000 Kip Deville on Sept. 28. He covered six furlongs in 1:09.80, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 93 that he earned ranks as the best career number in the Clever Trevor.

His rivals Friday include Shotgun Kowboy, who won a stakes after running third in the Kip Deville; Strawberry Baby, who takes on males following her romp in the $75,000 Lassie at Prairie Meadows; and Sky Full of Stars, a full brother to three-time Grade 1 winner Zensational.

Clever Trevor, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Bayerd (Last 3 Beyers: 93-90-62)

◗ He has been flattered since his win in the Kip Deville. The race’s third-place finisher, Shotgun Kowboy, returned to take the $85,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile, and the fourth-place finisher, American Sailor, accounted for a conditioned allowance at Delta Downs.

◗ Bayerd, trained by Steve Asmussen, won his maiden by more than 11 lengths at Saratoga in his second career start Aug. 23. In his debut, he was third to Competitive Edge, who went on to win the Grade 1 Hopeful.

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. will be riding Bayerd for the first time because the horse’s regular rider, Rosie Napravnik, announced her retirement last week in order to start a family with her husband, trainer Joe Sharp.

Shotgun Kowboy (Last 3 Beyers: 80-88-75)

◗ He’s in the midst of a strong meet at Remington. He won his debut by 12 3/4 lengths in a maiden special weight for Oklahoma-breds on Aug. 15, and after his third-place finish in the Kip Deville, he rolled by 6 1/2 lengths in the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile.

◗ Shotgun Kowboy could get an ideal stalking trip behind Bayerd and Strawberry Baby.

Sky Full of Stars (Debut Beyer: 58)

◗ He won his career debut in a maiden special weight at a mile, and since that Sept. 25 race, two horses he defeated have returned to win maiden allowances.

Lord Tyrion (Last 3 Beyers: 65-24-65)

◗ He invades from Kentucky for trainer Ian Wilkes off a fifth-place finish in a conditioned allowance sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 10.