Will Divine Kaleb rate or grab lead in Clever Trevor?

Divine Kaleb presents a bit of a handicapping quandary Friday night in the $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. He ran arguably the best race of his career last out when coming from off the pace, yet he looks like the controlling speed in the seven-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds.

“We’re in a race where nobody wants the front, and we drew the rail,” said trainer Karl Broberg. “Obviously, we’re wicked fast, but we’ve tried that twice now, and it just doesn’t work, so I don’t know. When we finally started rating him, he showed something.”

Divine Kaleb is part of a nine-horse field for the Clever Trevor, which is named for the winner of the inaugural Oklahoma Derby who died in July at the age of 30. The probable favorite is Mannford, who closed for second in the $75,000 Kip Deville in September at Remington.

The Clever Trevor figures to produce starters for the meet’s biggest race for the division, the $300,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 11.

Clever Trevor, Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Divine Kaleb, by Caleb’s Posse

Last 3 Beyers: 57-53-19

◗ He comes off a dominant win in an optional $75,000 claiming sprint in which he rallied for a sweeping, 4 1/4-length victory Sept. 22 at Remington. Divine Kaleb initially had to be wrangled back some early in the race but ultimately proved effective coming from off the pace.

“It wound up working really well,” Broberg said.

◗ Divine Kaleb had set the fractions and faltered in his previous two starts, the Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows and an allowance at Remington.

◗ He faces a number of rivals who are either cutting back from two turns or tend to bid from off the pace. He also will be racing beyond six furlongs for the first time and worked a bullet half-mile in 46.40 seconds in his final prep Oct. 28, all factors that could find him showing the way Friday.

◗ Divine Kaleb was a $60,000 purchase at an OBS sale of 2-year-olds in training in April. He races for William D. McCarty.

“He’s a big, beautiful horse and has wicked speed,” said Broberg, who has given the mount to Geovanni Franco with regular rider C.J. McMahon riding in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Friday.

Mannford, by Ready’s Image

Last 2 Beyers: 67-57

◗ He exits the Kip Deville, a six-furlong race in which he rallied from last for second to Cool Arrow, who has since run second in the $300,000 Spendthrift Stallion Stakes at Churchill Downs.

◗ Richard Eramia has the mount from post 5 for L and N Racing and trainer Steve Asmussen.