Pletcher can top off strong meet in Bryan Station

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In the years before purses swelled to their current record levels on the Kentucky racing circuit, Keeneland would end its fall meet in relatively quiet fashion, with the Fayette the lone stakes on the back end of a front-loaded meet.

No more. A combined five stakes on the last two days of the meet – not to mention all the six-figure allowances and maiden-specials – have given added meaning to one of the most high-profile meets of the year. The $200,000 Bowman Mill and $300,000 Bryan Station, the supporting events on the closing-day card Saturday, are clear examples of the rapid ascent this circuit has undergone.

Here’s a quick look at those co-features:

Bryan Station

A victory with Wit would be a fitting end to an outstanding meet for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, whose three Grade 1 wins on opening weekend helped him take a two-win edge atop the local trainer standings into the final three-day stretch. Wit is among a core of lukewarm favorites in an oversubscribed field in this Grade 3 turf mile for 3-year-olds.

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Wit was a precocious type but has transitioned nicely into an effective turf runner under Pletcher’s guidance. Second in his grass debut in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes, the Practical Joke colt then won the restricted Better Talk Now in his only subsequent try, with both races coming in August over the Saratoga turf. Jose Ortiz will be aboard Saturday from post 8.

Classic Causeway (post 5, Brian Hernandez Jr.), the upset winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in July for Kenny McPeek, is among the other logical plays, along with Ready to Purrform (post 1, Joel Rosario), winner of the Hall of Fame for Brad Cox, and the Irish-bred Balnikhov (post 2, Tyler Gaffalione), the beaten favorite in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby after winning the restricted Oceanside for Phil D’Amato.

In all, 16 are entered in the 18th Bryan Station but only as many as 12 can start.

Bowman Mill

Sir Lancelot, with Ortiz riding from post 2, will get tested for class when he puts his 2-for-2 record on the line against six other 2-year-olds in the six-furlong Bowman Mill.

Trained by Mike Stidham, Sir Lancelot was not tested in winning his debut at Delaware Park and the Dixon Memorial over Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs. Surely the Goldencents gelding won’t have it quite so easy when facing the likes of Quick Hammer (post 3, Luis Saez), a romping winner of his lone start for Cox, and Hurricane J (post 6, Joe Talamo), winner of an allowance on opening weekend of the meet.

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