Bryan Station J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of eight sophomores will contest Sunday’s Bryan Station
S. (G3) over Keeneland’s turf, and we could make a case for nearly the entire
field. MIKOSHI (Orientate) turned in a solid effort in the April 3 Transylvania S. (G3) at Keeneland over yielding ground, and the Michael
Matz-trained colt exits a close second over soft going in the Lure S. at
Saratoga. The ground will be less than firm Sunday, and the dark bay will look
to break through with his first stakes victory.

Mikoshi recorded a career-best 99 BRIS Speed rating, as well as a 101 BRIS
Late Pace number, in the Lure, and he owns a 2-1-1-0 mark at the one-mile
distance. He’s well drawn in post 2 with regular rider Jose Lezcano and appears
to be training well for his return off a 50-day rest. The Kentucky-bred won off
a similar freshening earlier this season, and we’ll tab him for top honors.

RESCUE SQUAD (Dynaformer) impressed us last spring when strolling to a 4
3/4-length decision in an off-the-turf allowance at Keeneland, and the well-bred
colt has turned in two performances since then, finishing sixth
against better in the 1 3/16-mile Colonial Turf Cup (G2) and a fast-finishing
third in a Belmont allowance/optional claiming event most recently. The Shug
McGaughey ran well against a tough group of elder rivals last time, and we
expect to see him keep moving forward while dropping back in with
three-year-olds. Edgar Prado, who has been up for all seven career starts, will
return to the saddle, and the late runner is a threat to pick up all the pieces
in the stretch.

STRIKE AGAIN (Dixie Union) faltered in the Lure last time, but he offered a
big run over yielding ground in the Tap the Admiral S. two back, winning by a head,
and may find the conditions favorable on Sunday. The Bill Mott runner favors the
distance (4-2-1-0) and owns room for further improvement, and we like that
Julien Leparoux stays aboard. The stalker should sit a good trip in midpack
before offering his best.

EL CRESPO (A.P. Indy) merits respect from the rail. Trained by Rusty Arnold,
who is off to a strong start this meet (9-3-3-1), the Grade 3 winner exits a
respectable second in the 1 3/16-mile Saranac S. (G3) at Saratoga. We’re not
sure if this is his best distance, but the dark bay figures to be forwardly
placed under Shaun Bridgmohan and could loom large turning for home. GET STORMY
(Stormy Atlantic) will carry his speed as far as he can on the lead. The Tom
Bush pupil posted a field-best 100 BRIS Speed rating when knocking off our top
choice last time in the Lure, and the hard-trying colt has won or placed in four of his last
five starts. Keeneland doesn’t yield many wire-to-wire wins over its course,
though. We’ll include him on the bottom of some exotics.

KINSELLA (Mr. Greeley) is the 3-1 morning line favorite in his stakes bow,
and the $2.2 million yearling purchase could be the real deal for Team Valor/Todd
Pletcher. He rolled to sharp allowance victory last time at Saratoga, earning a
110 BRIS Late Pace rating, and the mile distance is a good fit for the promising
turf colt. However, we are concerned about the expected footing. The chestnut
didn’t handle the good turf at Churchill earlier this season, checking in a
well-beaten eighth, and we’re not willing to take a short price here over soft
ground.

Unbeaten MAJOR MARVEL (Bernstein) will also be making his stakes debut here. A maiden winner
at Laurel in early September, the colt exits a pair of allowance scores at
Delaware Park for Dale Capuano, but his BRIS numbers are a little lower than the
main contenders. We’ll give him a race at the stakes level. CEDROS (Medaglia
d’Oro) is a maiden who looks overmatched in this position.