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AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
The opening-day feature at Churchill Downs is the $100,000 Derby Trial S. (G3), run at 7 /2 furlongs for three-year-olds. Eight intriguing sophomores will contest his one, led by stakes winner SILVER CITY (Unbridled's Song), who drew the rail. The gray colt, who was a courageous second in the Southwest S. (G3) two back, is very fast early and should be fit enough to endure this trip after a pair of route tries. Julien Leparoux, fresh off dominating the Keeneland jockey standings, has the call. SANTANA SIX (Hold That Tiger) was second in his debut and has rolled to a pair of wins since for Nick Zito, including a visually impressive allowance tally last out. The Kentucky-bred colt posted 100 and 102 BRIS Late Pace figures in his two wins and is proven at this trip, so we'll use him to complete our exacta under regular rider John Velazquez. The impressive HULL (Holy Bull) has crushed two fields to begin his career for Dale Romans, posting 101 and 97 BRIS Speed numbers along the way. The talented sophomore wisely skipped the Lexington S. (G2) last weekend after drawing an impossible post, and he's placed in an infinitely better spot on this day. We have no idea how good this guy is or can be, but it might be a good time to try and beat him at short odds. We will still use the colt in nearly all of our wagers under Miguel Mena. KENSEI (Mr. Greeley) is one we have high hopes for in this field for Steve Asmussen, and he enters off of a nice prep win at Oaklawn Park in his first try in 2009. A clear winner in his debut at Saratoga, the bay tired to sixth in the subsequent Futurity S. (G2) but started his three-year-old campaign in nice fashion in the slop. Robby Albarado will guide the colt, who should be a big price. West Coast invader GATO GO WIN (City Place) has raced solely on synthetic ovals for Jeff Mullins, but he would be more than logical in here if he handles the dirt as well as the synthetic stuff. The dark bay Florida-bred has faced some of the top one-turn performers in California and posted a pair of works over his strip, so we'll consider him an exotics contender under Calvin Borel. CHECKLIST (Gone West) turned heads with a scintillating maiden win t first asking, but the Todd Pletcher trainee has yet to build upon that effort from two subsequent tries. The well-bred bay has trained well since his recent allowance win, firing a pair of bullets at Palm Meadows while working in company with top Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Dunkirk (Unbridled's Song). We're on the fence with this one. TINTIM POR TINTIM (Broken Vow) enters off of a fine maiden romp for conditioner Bill Mott and will be thrown to the proverbial wolves in here in his first try versus winners. The chestnut Florida-bred didn't beat much at Gulfstream Park last out and lacks the seasoning and BRIS Speed numbers of his foes, so we can't endorse the colt at this stage of his development, even though we have tons of respect for Mott. RENDEZVOUS (Victory Gallop), third in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) in his last effort, ships in for the crafty Jerry Hollendorfer. We just can't see the chestnut being a big threat with his low Speed figures and lack of early foot.
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