How to bet the Bryan Station Stakes

An outstanding field of three-year-olds will travel one mile on the Keeneland green in Saturday’s $600,000 Bryan Station S. (G3). The lucrative event boasts a bevy of talented runners, and a legitimate case could be made for nearly every contender in the deep field, but I’m going to put a majority of my focus on a single entrant in the group who will offer a lot of value to the mutuels. 

Bryan Station Wagers

• $20 win and place #9 Evade ($40)
• $5 exacta box 9,11 ($10)
• $2 exacta key box 9 with 1,6 ($8)

I thought that the fourth-place finish in the Franklin-Simpson S. (G1) at Kentucky Downs put forth by Euro import #9 Evade (6-1) was a strong showing in his U.S. debut, and the dark bay will improve in his second assignment since arriving in the Mike Maker barn. A game winner in his career debut at Deauville in July 2023, the gelding faced Group foes in a trio of runs in succession to conclude his juvenile season, with a second-place finish behind the multiple Group-1 placed Beauvatier in the Prix la Rochette (G3) at Longchamp being his most notable result. 

The son of Wootton Bassett was transferred to conditioner Archie Watson earlier this campaign and kicked off his three-year-old season with a stakes triumph at Epsom. Prior to being unplaced in two tough spots following that victory, Evade made a nice middle move at Kentucky Downs before being caught late for third, but he stretches out to a route for the initial time at Keeneland and I expect him to thrive in his newest endeavor. The top pick is surely bred to handle the voyage, and the half-brother to champion National Defense will also receive a rider upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione as well. He will stalk the pace before putting in his winning move late. 

I have grown to admire the abilities of the Graham Motion-trained #11 Trikari (2-1), who owns tallies in the Belmont Derby (G1), Secretariat S. (G2), and American Turf S. (G2) this season. The Oscar Performance colt was last seen running well with his elders in the City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita, and the colt could surely appreciate the class relief back in with his fellow sophomores. I am not thrilled with his post and I also have some concern that he will be running at his eighth different venue at the tail end of a long campaign, but he’s still too genuine for me to ignore. Manny Franco inherits the mount. 

Grade 2 winner #1 Neat (8-1) and Gun Runner S. victor #6 Brilliant Berti (7-2) are also dangerous commodities in the heat and will be included in my exotics wagers.