While the $150,000 Bryan Station Stakes might not come with the same purses or prestige as the Breeders' Cup races set to take place Nov. 6 at Keeneland, securing a win will be a no less daunting task.
The 1 1/8-mile Bryan Station has drawn a full field of 14 turf runners, with four additional horses entered as also eligible. Topping that list will be 3-year-old Fancy Liquor, who enters off a half-length victory in the Sept. 5 American Turf Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Mike Maker, Fancy Liquor has proven remarkably consistent since his Feb. 2 debut at Gulfstream Park. After winning first out, the Lookin At Lucky colt picked up a third-place finish in the March 14 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park. He ran third again two starts later in the July 12 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T), finishing less than a half-length behind winner Field Pass.
On Aug. 12 Fancy Liquor added his first official stakes win in the Caesers Stakes at Indiana Grand before finally making the grade in the American Turf. The dark bay is campaigned by Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable and will break from post 6 under Florent Geroux.
Another runner to watch on Friday will be Wertheimer and Frere homebred No Word, a colt by Japanese-bred stallion Silent Name . The Todd Pletcher trainee won an allowance-level event July 9 at Belmont Park and has continued to prove his mettle, running third in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course before earning runner-up honors in the Oct. 3 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Belmont. He will break from post 2 with Jose Ortiz in the irons.
Keeneland, Friday, November 06, 2020, Race 3Entries: Bryan Station S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Enforceable (KY)
Adam Beschizza
118
Mark E. Casse
10/1
2
2No Word (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Todd A. Pletcher
5/1
3
3Taishan (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Richard Baltas
12/1
4
4Angelus Warrior (KY)
Manuel Franco
118
Michael J. Maker
15/1
5
5Pixelate (KY)
UMBERTO RISPOLI
122
Michael Stidham
8/1
6
6Fancy Liquor (KY)
Florent Geroux
122
Michael J. Maker
4/1
7
7Spanish Kingdom (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Joe Sharp
15/1
8
8Vanzzy (KY)
Jose Lezcano
118
Michael V. Pino
15/1
9
9Order of Australia (IRE)
Ryan L. Moore
118
Aidan P. O'Brien
6/1
10
10Reconvene (VA)
Joe Bravo
118
Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr.
8/1
11
11Mo Ready (NY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Todd A. Pletcher
8/1
12
12Fighting Seabee (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Kenneth G. McPeek
10/1
13
13Don Juan Kitten (KY)
Flavien Prat
118
Michael J. Maker
6/1
14
14Bye Bye Melvin (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
H. Graham Motion
8/1
15
15Ajourneytofreedom (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Michael J. Maker
20/1
16
16Ever Dangerous (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
George Weaver
15/1
17
17Mud Pie (KY)
Luis Saez
118
George R. Arnold, II
20/1
18
18Bama Breeze (KY)
Joel Rosario
118
George R. Arnold, II
20/1