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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
An excellent field of eight will contest the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) over the Churchill Downs lawn on Saturday. This deep and contentious collection boasts some of the top turf handicappers in the country and we'll look for a sweep by the California invaders. GOLDEN BALLS (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) made a big impression on us with a late-running tally in the La Puente S. last spring and seems poised for a breakthrough win in here. The James Cassidy pupil had an excellent tightener for this when a closing third in the Arcadia H. (G2) and could appreciate the added furlong in today's contest. The chestnut colt has been impressive in his morning drills and should be a solid price in advance of his first graded score. David Flores has the call. We will take one more chance with Grade 2 star OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), even though he has let us down twice this campaign for Bobby Frankel. The five-year-old proved that he was among the top miler types in California last year but hasn't gotten over the hump as of yet in this campaign in two eight-furlong races. The extra furlong should aid the dark bay, as should the rail post and the guidance of Garrett Gomez. ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill) has improved with age under the tutelage of Neil Drysdale and comes off a useful fourth-place finish in the Arcadia. The bay seven-year-old broke through with a Grade 1 win last fall and trekked to Japan for a respectable finish in the deep Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), prior to finishing a good second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) in March. The ridgling is in good hands with Rafael Bejarano and is drawn on the outside. WAR MONGER (War Chant) disappointed in his last pair for Bill Mott, but the four-year-old has much more ability that he's has shown in his recent two tries. The bay Florida-bred looked like a superstar-in-waiting when dominating the Sunshine Millions Turf, but he has failed to leave that impression in his subsequent two outings against better. We've not given up on the colt, but it's hard to pick him to win at this juncture. Kent Deosrmeaux will pilot the bay, who is a logical exotics contender. EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) was a fine second in the Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) and appears to be set up perfectly for this engagement for trainer Helen Pitts. The multiple Grade 1-winning dark bay is proven at this trip and has a world of talent, but we're not excited about his three races over this oval, which all resulted in unplaced finishes including a seventh in this race in 2007. Robby Albarado will guide the Brazilian, who will likely be overbet. We'll try to beat him. There is not much speed in this field, making THORN SONG (Unbridled's Song) a dangerous customer in here. A good third last out in the Maker's Mark Mile, the Dale Romans trainee got good last summer when reeling off six consecutive first or second-place finishes, led by a win in the River City H. (G3) on this lawn. This group is surely tougher than the River City, but if the Maker's Mark Mile was any indication, the five-year-old could have a big say in the outcome beneath John Velazquez. DUVEEN (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) was superb in his first five turf races, including a win last year in the Crown Royal American Turf S. (G3), but something went amiss in the Virginia Derby (G2), when the colt was seventh in his yearly finale. The dark bay has since been transferred to the Kiaran McLaughlin barn, who hits at a good percentage with these types, but we're always somewhat skeptical when horses like this make their first start out of their own division. We'll use the Kentucky-bred only on the bottom of the exotics beneath Edgar Prado. YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) loves Churchill Downs, evidenced by his 5-3-1-0 mark locally, and he displayed a nice turn of foot when second in the Canadian Turf H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The second-string of the Romans trainees showed little in his latest effort but has been pointed to this event all year, and he could sneak into the lower rungs of the gimmicks with his best. Ramon Dominguez will have the call.
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