Man in the Can wins Friday Churchill allowance; Blue Grass next?

Man in the Can proved he deserved favoritism in a nine furlong allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on Friday, but the question is where will he go from here?

A winner of four races in five career starts, the 3-year-old son of Can the Man defeated 11 others with jockey Tyler Gaffalione in the irons for trainer Ron Moquett.

Now riding a three-race win streak, including back-to-back stakes victories in Arkansas-bred restricted races at Oaklawn Park earlier this spring, the Grade 2 Blue Grass looms at Keeneland in four weeks.

Man in the Can broke sharply and closely tracked a quartet of horses sent out for the early lead in the opening stages of the route on Churchill's fast main track.

Close to the lead throughout, the homebred for JRita Young Thoroughbreds LLC took control in the final 100 yards of the race, hitting the wire first in 1:49.74 as the 5-2 post-time favorite.

Man in the Can paid $7.20 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.20 to show.

Longshot Dean Martini finished second, followed by Earner to fill out the trifecta, which paid $177.55 for a 50-cent wager.