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AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
Seven sophomores in need of accomplishments will travel 1 3/16 miles in the Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. HEY BYRN (Put It Back) was our pick in the competitive Florida Derby (G1) two weeks back, and we have to side with him against this questionable bunch. The Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee had a useful juvenile campaign but really turned it on over this oval at three, rolling to impressive 14 1/2- and six-length allowance scores, prior to coming home fourth in the Florida Derby. The bay colt ranks first in BRIS Prime Power by a big margin and is facing six runners who are still eligible for a first-level allowance. C. C. Lopez has the call. We see FAMOUS PATRIOT (Repent), who is well drawn on the rail and exits a solid maiden score for Timothy Hills, as the logical second-placer in here. The Florida-bred was a fine third in his debut going short, and was third against a good one two back, but finally put it together with a dominant win at nine panels last out. The colt earned a career-best 98 BRIS Speed number last out and gets a lot of stamina from his sire. Eddie Castro will be in the irons. NATHAN RIDGE (Quaker Ridge) ran into a solid horse on two consecutive occasions and has run well over this surface this year, so the gelding has a chance at a top-three showing. The Frank Carlisi trainee is far from brilliant, but he's been consistent and has useful tactical speed. Eduardo Nunez will be aboard. DREAM MAESTRO (Concerto) has never run poorly from five career tries and will attempt to make the maiden-to-stakes jump for conditioner Bill Kaplan. The gelded chestnut was all out to break his maiden last out, but there is no questioning his fitness and he's a logical exotics threat under Manoel Cruz. WEB GEM (Fusaichi Pegasus) had no chance with War Pass (Cherokee Run) two back and improved some with a third-place effort last out, but we're not convinced that the colt is ready to handle this distance at this juncture. Maiden CHIEF BEAR (Chief Seattle) has ability but we question his connections and the way they have handled their colt. The dark bay was fifth in a maiden race last out in the slop. BIPOLAR EXPRESS (Equality) has lost twice in Michigan-bred stakes and has failed to hit the board in his three outings at Tampa in 2008, so we have no idea why the gelding is in this field.
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