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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
A nine-horse field will line-up in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. COURT VISION (Gulch) is the most accomplished runner in the field and the most likely winner for conditioner Richard Dutrow. A multiple Grade 1 winner, the dark bay was a good second in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) last out and should be primed while running at what we think could be his most effective distance. Robby Albarado will guide the Kentucky-bred. BLUES STREET (Street Cry [Ire]) is in peak condition for trainer Todd Pletcher and enters this race on a four-race winning streak. The Grade 2 star was offered for a claiming tag as recently as the summer, but after removing blinkers four starts ago, the dark bay hasn't really been tested while defeating some fine runners. Javier Castellano will pilot the top win threat. The ever-consistent BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) has been a high-quality player ever since coming to the United States and will almost surely break through at this level at some point in his career for Jeff Mullins. The gelded four-year-old is adept at handling distances from one mile to 10 furlongs, and our only concern about him in here is the expected lack of early pace. Ramon Dominguez will ride the bay for the first time. LOUP BRETON (Ire) (Anabaa) took the San Marcos S. (G2) two races prior and is among the top turf performers on the West Coast for trainer Julio Canani. The classy bay will remove his blinkers for this race, and it's a positive that the six-year-old was supplemented to this one, so we must include the accomplished horse with Garrett Gomez. YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) should be forwardly placed from the outside under Julien Leparoux and could get first run on the closers for Dale Romans. The dark bay likes this oval with five wins in 12 tries upon it, and while he's never proven to be of Grade 1 quality, he could be the one to catch at the top of the lane. AL KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro), hero of the Saranac S. (G3) in the fall, hasn't raced since a fourth-place finish in the Hollywood Derby (G1) for conditioner Bill Mott. The talented bay has worked well in advance of this and is a very steady turf performer, but we're not confident that he can win a race of this magnitude off the bench. Kent Desormeaux will be on the ridgling. WISE RIVER (Belong to Me) hasn't won since taking an allowance/optional claiming event on this oval in April of 2009 for trainer Clark Hanna, but if the seven-year-old gets a firm turf course, he could be in for an exotics finish under Calvin Borel. The dark bay boasts a solid 10-2-3-2 mark on this strip and has been plagued with moisture-laden turf ovals in most of his latest starts while he's clearly better on firm going. GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) picked a tough spot to try the turf for the first time since 2008, but the in-form Thomas McCarthy trainee could get a share if he takes his dirt form onto the grass course. The gray four-year-old has earned triple-digit BRIS Speed numbers in each of his 2010 starts and has good tactical speed, so we'll put him in our vertical plays under Rafael Bejarano. POP TARRT (E Dubai) has run his best two races on this turf course for Joe Deegan, but the four-year-old is still a cut below the best on this day.
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