Notes, quotes and photos from G2 Secretariat Stakes: Trikari

(Trikari wins the G2 Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs on Sunday / All photos by Coady Media)

From the Colonial Downs Media Team:

Amerman Racing’s Trikari dominated the field of 3-year-olds in the Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat at Colonial Downs on Sunday. Trikari held off a late charge from favorite Brilliant Berti to win by 2¼ lengths on a hard turf course. Trikari, trained by Graham Motion and ridden by John Velazquez, covered the one-mile course in 1:34.92.

“Johnny was totally impressed with his agility,” said winning trainer Graham Motion. He was so relaxed on the back and when he asked him to do it, he just ran. I think as (Trikari) matures now and starts running against older horses – he’s going to have to step up his game against older horses – I think (a mile) is really going to be his thing. I tried not to think about the Breeders’ Cup because it’s tough for 3-year-olds, a race at Keeneland maybe against older horses, something like that we’ll have to consider.”

General Ledger took the lead and ran honest opening times of :24.24 and :48.26 while Trikari stayed comfortably in fourth and Brilliant Berti settled in at the end of the inside lane. Trikari came through on the final turn and took the lead at the end of the home straight. With Brilliant Berti in tow, Trikari proved too strong.

In a Jam finished third and General Ledger finished fourth.

The son of 2017 Secretariat winner Oscar Performance, also owned by Amerman, now has three graded stakes wins on his resume, which is 8-5-1-1. With his Secretariat win, Trikari improved his purse total to $1,303,530.