Earlier this year, trainer Cherie DeVaux added blinkers to Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Golden Tempo, a key equipment change that helped elevate the 3-year-old's performances. He then showed in the Louisiana Derby (G2) before adding victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), followed by another third-place finish in the Travers Stakes (G1).
Now DeVaux is adding blinkers to another late-running 3-year-old in her stable: C R K Stable's Remember Mamba, the 3-1 morning-line favorite in an overdrawn renewal of the $400,000 Bryan Station Stakes (G2T) Oct. 24 at Keeneland.
A dozen 3-year-old males make up the field for the 1-mile turf contest, with four others on the also-eligible list. Those runners need one or more scratches to draw into the race on the closing day of Keeneland's fall meet. (Keeneland reopens for two days of Breeders' Cup racing Oct. 30-31.)
Remember Mamba and multiple stakes winner Bottas, the 7-2 second choice, headline the field.
Beyond the addition of blinkers—plastic cups attached to a hood that restrict a racehorse's peripheral vision and are designed to improve focus—a return to Keeneland, where DeVaux bases her stable, should further enhance Remember Mamba's chances. The Kitten's Joy colt is 2-for-2 on the Keeneland turf, winning a maiden on debut last fall and later capturing the Transylvania Stakes (G3T) this spring.
Between those victories, he romped in an allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
In three subsequent outings following the Transylvania, Remember Mamba rallied to finish second in the May 2 American Turf Stakes (G1T) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, ran a close third in the Belmont Derby Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, and was fourth in the Saratoga Derby Stakes (G1T). The latter race marked the first time he had lost ground over the final furlong.
DeVaux cuts him back in distance from 1 3/16 miles in the Saratoga Derby to a mile for the Bryan Station. Regular rider Jose Ortiz returns aboard.
Dahman's Bottas, a close fifth in the Belmont Derby in his lone meeting with Remember Mamba, has since won two consecutive races at a mile: the Aug. 7 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) and the $1,748,056 Gun Runner Stakes Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs for trainer Miguel Clement.
New York-based jockey Manny Franco rode the Vekoma colt for much of his career before Ortiz rode in the Gun Runner. Tyler Gaffalione takes the mount Saturday.
Like Remember Mamba, Bottas is most effective when settling off the pace and making a late run.
Beyond the two favorites, the deep field figures to offer generous prices on many competitors, including a pair of longshots trained by Brendan Walsh: Infiltrate and Immortalised. Infiltrate finished second in the Secretariat Stakes (G2T) in August but has been less effective in two subsequent stakes appearances. Immortalised won Gulfstream Park's Cutler Bay Stakes in March and finished second in both the Penn Mile Stakes (G3T) and American Derby, placing behind Bryan Station rival Alpyland in both, before finishing 10th in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs when trying a turf sprint.
"Two nice horses," Walsh told Keeneland publicity. "Immortalised has been rock solid all year. The mile should suit him. (Infiltrate) should go well, too."
