Graham Motion Will Saddle Three in the $50,000 Nick Shuk Memorial

The morning line favorite at 3-1 is Craftsman (IRE), one of three horses Graham Motion will saddle in the race. The Irish-bred sophomore son of Mastercraftsman (IRE) will be making his first start for the Motion barn and will have Alex Cintron in the irons. He began his career in Ireland and has two wins from eight career starts. He has yet to hit the board from four United States efforts.

Thunder Strike part of loaded Motion contingent 

Second choice at 4-1 is another globe-trotting competitor from the Motion stable, Thunder Strike (GB). The chestnut son of Sahkee’s Secret (GB) will be ridden ny Trevor McCarthy and was last seen finishing third in the J.W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico in May. He began his career in Great Britain and won three of his eight starts as a juvenile. He will break from post position ten in the large field of eleven.

Marcus Vitali has live longhot in Allstar

Breaking from the outside is longshot Allstar, tabbed at 11-1 on the morning line for Marcus Vitali. Ridden by the barn’s first-call rider Orlando Bocachica and owned by Crossed Sabres Farms, these are the same connections that teamed up earlier in the year with Grade 1 winner Lochte. The gelded son of Flower Alley cost $175,000 as a juvenile and has won two of his eight starts. After a failed effort in the Florida Derby, he was last seen finishing third at Delaware Park in the Stanton Stakes.