10/21/2022
Provocateur takes his show on the road on Saturday by running in Keeneland’s $250,000 Perryville Stakes.
Your c**t is among eight 3-year-olds entered in the seven-furlong dirt race at Keeneland’s prestigious fall meet. Post time is 3:40 p.m. ET. The gorgeous forecast calls for sunny skies and temps in the 70s, after a very chilly start to the week in the Bluegrass. You can watch the race live on Keeneland’s YouTube channel here.
A distinguished field has been entered in the Perryville Stakes, including multiple graded stakes winner and Grade 1 winner Gunite and the late-developing Artorius.
Luis Saez, about for Provocateur’s third-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in June, is back aboard for Todd Pletcher, who is Keeneland’s all-time leading trainer in stakes won.
Provocateur enters off of a disappointing effort as the favorite in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx last month. The son of Into Mischief ran flatly that day. Pletcher shipped him early to Keeneland so the c**t could become accustomed to the surface and he enters Saturday’s assignment with two productive works under his belt at the Lexington track. He will have to step it up in this spot where the top Beyer Speed Figures are 102 (Gunite) and 98 (Artorius). Provocateur’s top is 91, earned with his victory in the Jersey Shore Stakes, yet he regressed to a 79 in the Gallant Bob.
Provocateur, who is 15-1 on the morning-line, has proven that he is not one-dimensional in that he doesn’t need “his track” as he has won races at 3 different venues. The distance is a question, though, as he has yet to win at seven furlongs in two starts, although he did place in both of those races with his 3rd in the Woody Stephens and 2nd in the Pasco Stakes. He’s a horse who has tactical speed, which is a desirable style of running as he can put himself into the race early and isn’t dependent upon coming from the clouds, which can lead to traffic problems.
Provocateur has been a lot of fun for his partners with his consistent record of 3-2-1 in 9 career starts, including two stakes wins and a Grade 1 placing. Outside of his race in the Gallant Bob and his career debut on turf, he has shown up gamely every time he steps into the starting gate.
It’s a testament to Provocateur’s productiveness on the track that he’s entered to run in a stakes at one of the world’s most elite and competitive meets. So enjoy Saturday’s experience, partners, and best of racing luck to you and your c**t!
