Among 3-year-old male turf types, Trikari needs little introduction.
The Amerman Racing Stables’ Oscar Performance colt has won three graded stakes this year, including the Grade 1 Belmont Derby. Unfortunately for his backers, that type of resume attracts money, and his 2-1 morning-line price in Saturday’s Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes is too low for me against what I view as a deep group at Keeneland.
Scratches and also-eligibles drawing in can change the dynamics, but I have most of my excitement reserved for Demolisher, a Hoosier who eschewed Indiana-bred champions day on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis to test the open-stakes waters for the first time. It’s a tall ask, for sure, but his numbers are competitive with these, and he sheds six pounds from his previous two victories.
The biggest feather in his cap is a potential pace edge. Admittedly, his most impressive early zip has come on dirt, and we did not learn much when he pressed a slow pace in his lone turf try. But a bullet work in to this certainly signals to me that jockey Manny Esquivel’s foot will be on the gas.
Mansa Musa, presumably named for the 14th-century leader of the Mali Empire who many regard as the richest person in history, also could make some noise upfront stretching out after a career sprinting on turf. Evade should be closer as well coming out of the same Franklin-Simpson (G1) as Mansa Musa and getting jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
Assuming Trikari gets bet as expected, I won’t be upset having all of Demolisher, Mansa Musa and Evade on my multi-race tickets and might keep things as easy as a exacta box. If Demolisher really gets ignored in the wagering, I’d fold him in with Trikari only as well.
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