Land Battle set to break through in Clever Trevor
After finishing second or third in three stakes, Land Battle will be looking for a stakes win of his own in Friday night’s $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington Park.
The Clever Trevor, at seven furlongs, drew 11. It is expected to produce starters for the $400,000 Springboard Mile, which will award Kentucky Derby points for the first time when it is renewed Dec. 17 at Remington.
Trainer Scott Gelner said he hopes to run Land Battle in the Springboard Mile.
The Clever Trevor field also includes Analyze This Jet, winner of the $75,000 El Joven at Retama Park; Just Call Me Ken, who captured the $50,000 Governor’s Cup at Zia; and Diamondsandstripes, who won the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile at Remington.
Clever Trevor (race 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Land Battle, by Istan
(Last 3 Beyers: 51-66-64)
◗ He’s never been worse than third in his five-race career, including a third-place finish to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile entrant The Tabulator in the $65,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile on July 28 at Prairie Meadows. The Tabulator went on to win the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs.
◗ Land Battle, meanwhile, has gone on to finish second in both the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Prince on Sept. 2 and the $75,000 Kip Deville on Sept. 24 at Remington. He enters the Clever Trevor off a local allowance win over 6 1/2 furlongs Oct. 14.
“His last race was a good race,” Gelner said. “He sat off of them a little bit, he relaxed, and when he was called on he went on.”
◗ Land Battle was a $2,500 yearling purchase by Norman Stables at Keeneland September in 2016.
“He was just real athletic looking,” Gelner said. “When we broke him, he was focused, and he’s done everything right. He really doesn’t make many mistakes.”
◗ Shane Laviolette has the mount from post 7. Gelner said Land Battle can be part of the pace or sit back if there is a good deal of speed.
“It’s going to be up to Shane,” he said.
Analyze This Jet, by Overanalyze
(Last 3 Beyers: 71-58-49)
◗ He is moving back to dirt after winning the El Joven on turf Oct. 14. He entered the stakes off a maiden special weight win on dirt at Remington.