Field of Six Set for $300,000 Ben Ali Stakes

Protonico headlines the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 9-5 for trainer Todd Pletcher. A four-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway, he has won four of his nine career starts and will be trying to rebound after getting eased in the Donn Handicap (G1) in February. A multiple graded stakes winner, he has been training forwardly and has had two consecutive bullet workouts. Javier Castellano will be aboard from post position five.

Farhaan returning off of an extended layoff

Second choice at 5-2 on the morning line is Farhaan, a homebred for Shadwell Stable trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. A six-year-old son of Jazil, he has won six of his sixteen starts and will be making his first start since winning the Alydar Stakes in Saratoga in August. He was fifth in the Ben Ali (G3) last year. He will be trying to earn the first graded stakes victory of his career and will have regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard from post three.

Golden Ticket making second start of the year

Also in the field at morning line odds of 3-1 is Golden Ticket for trainer Ken McPeek. A six-year-old son of Speightstown, the six-time career winner will be making his second start of the year after a third-place finish in the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn in March. He has had a bullet workout since that race and will be reunited with jockey Joel Rosario who was aboard for his last win which came in September. They will break from post four.