Ricardo Mathie’s American-bred sensation Pack Plays returns to the racetrack this afternoon seeking another resounding victory in the $1.4-million Doval Trophy feature, an Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward going nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).

Pack Plays’ September 21 debut left fans awestruck as he annihilated rivals by 12 ½ lengths in an Overnight Allowance contest over six-and-a-half furlongs (1,300m). He won in an impressive time of 1:17.3 (23.2 x 46.3 x 1:11.0).

The three-year-old dark bay/brown colt, bred by Stay Thirsty out of Standard Deal, glided to victory under Raddesh Roman without breaking a sweat, showcasing his raw talent.

Pack Plays’ dominant display sets the stage for his highly anticipated engagement in the prestigious Mouttet Mile (invitational) in December.

The Doval Trophy feature sets the scene for another scintillating performance.

Pack Plays faces a lone adversary in the contest over the two turns. However, his breathtaking October 12 workout, when he devoured seven furlongs (1,400m) in 1:27.4, silences doubts.

Pack Plays, expected to leave rivals in his dust, will essentially be racing against the clock.

The contest is positioned as the eighth event on the nine-race card with a post time of 4:30 pm. First race is at high noon.

While the stage is set for Pack Plays’ solo showcase in the Doval, an intriguing subplot unfolds – the quest for second. The thrilling three-way battle emerges for the exacta spot among Rhythm Buzz, D Head Cornerstone, and Neo Star. These contenders will engage in a fierce fight for the runner-up position.

Rhythm Buzz comes into this race on the backend of four consecutive victories, two of which came at this distance, clocking 1:57.3 and 1:57.2, respectively, on April 27 and June 15.

D Head Cornerstone is also coming off a win. He ran out an easy 2 ¼ length winner at this distance in 1:57.2 on September 8.

Neo Star won at this distance two starts back on July 8 when he clocked 1:55.4. This performance could easily give him the second spot.

Pack Plays’ superior speed and endurance make him nearly unbeatable. The real question: Who will complete the exacta?

Will Rhythm Buzz’s winning streak continue? Can D Head Cornerstone build on his recent success? Or will Neo Star’s blazing speed secure second place? The answer awaits in this electrifying showdown.

— Ruddy Allen