Sequiota dangerous on favorite course

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ray Trisler started training horses at an age when some men retire from it.

Trisler, 73, has owned horses since 1985, but it wasn’t until 2014 that he began training on his own. His wife, Linda, once had as many as 600 Arabians on their farm in Indiana.

“I was involved in a number of different businesses and employed other trainers,” said Trisler, a graduate of Purdue University and a minor-league baseball player in his youth. “Linda knows a lot more about horses than me. I just decided it was time for me to give it a try.”

The Trislers will make the nearly two-hour drive from the south suburbs of Indianapolis to run the star of their 14-horse stable, Sequiota, in the Friday feature at Churchill Downs, a $47,000, second-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The 10-race card starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the ninth-race feature set for 4:48.

Sequiota, with Florent Geroux riding, will break from post 5 in a field of 10 fillies and mares. She looks to improve on a record of two wins and two seconds from four starts over the Churchill turf.

“She likes Churchill, and we like her,” said Trisler. “She’s a late runner, and she’ll give you a heart attack with her running style, but she does know where the wire is.”

Exiting a third-place finish in a Claiming Crown qualifying race at Kentucky Downs, Sequiota is one of a handful of logical contenders along with Venus Valentine, Shes a True Beauty, and a couple of mares entered for a $62,500 claiming option, Be Playful and Impeached.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sequiota, by Awesome Again

Last 3 Beyers: 76-75-84

◗ With four wins and $100,000 in earnings this year, she is enjoying easily the best season of a career that started off rather slowly.

◗ A return to her favorite surface makes her the one to beat, assuming there’s enough pace up ahead.

Shes a True Beauty, by Yes It’s True

Last 3 Beyers: 82-75-77

◗ She’s had just one start since last fall, a seventh-place finish in an allowance on the turf at Saratoga, which has been followed by a steady work pattern.

◗ Trainer Dallas Stewart won the turf feature here Sunday with the filly Dynazar.

Impeached, by Northern Afleet

Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-82

◗ Washington-bred mare has a 3-for-4 record over the Churchill turf and has kept classy company in recent starts for trainer Jimmy Corrigan, who has done a commendable job managing her out of his Thoroughbred Center training facility base.

Venus Valentine, by Congrats

Last 3 Beyers: 74-71-77

◗ She’s a Grade 2 winner, having pulled a 74-1 stunner in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds in February, but she’s a 3-year-old returning from a layoff of nearly five months with inferior Beyer Speed Figures and just one prior start over grass.