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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Seven horses will go postward in the $150,000 Mineshaft H. (G3) at Fair Grounds on Saturday, and it appears to be a two-horse race between GRASSHOPPER (Dixie Union) and MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades). We'll side with the latter. The Todd Pletcher-trained Magna Graduate has come up short in his last five outings, but this appears to be a perfect spot for the six-year-old to make his return. The dark bay ran into the top handicap horses in the country last year with decent results, and he should appreciate the class drop in this group. The Kentucky-bred has compiled a sharp 7-4-1-0 record at this 1 1/16-mile trip and has posted three bullet works since the start of the year. John Velazquez has the call. Grasshopper exploded onto the racing scene when pushing Street Sense to the limit in the Travers S. (G1) for Neil Howard, and the colt concluded his campaign with a decent second in the Super Derby (G2). The four-year-old dark bay is equipped with tactical speed and has never recorded a BRIS Late Pace number lower than 94 in his seven lifetime tries. Robby Albarado will guide the live contender. ENCAUSTIC (Broad Brush), a full brother to Grade 1 winner and current sire Include, shipped in from Maryland and will make his first start for conditioner Steve Asmussen. The bay colt earned a career-best 105 BRIS Speed number in his last start and is fairly consistent, but he has never topped anything like this before. Shaun Bridgmohan will be in the irons, and we like him to close out the trifecta. SILVER LORD (Unbridled's Song) is the wildcard in here for Asmussen, as the five-year-old has reeled off three consecutive wins in fairly convincing fashion. A gray five-year-old bred in Kentucky, Silver Lord has been on or near the lead in his prior three efforts, but we expect the pace to be healthy in here which could diminish his chances for the win. Corey Lanerie will be aboard. Note that Silver Lord is cross-entered to the Essex H. at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. BETTER THAN BONDS (Sweetsouthernsaint) is another who should add to the lively pace and we think there are better alternatives in this field. STONEHOUSE (Chester House) was a facile allowance winner in an off-the-turf event last out and looks overmatched on this occasion. ISLAND WARRIOR (Cherokee Run) could lead the field through the opening stages, but we don't expect the five-year-old to be there late.
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