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Preemptive Strike heads field of seven in Royal Chase Since its inception in 1998, Keeneland's Royal Chase for the Sport of the Kings (NSA-G1) has been a showcase for the nation's best hurdlers, becoming the focal point of the steeplechase set's spring season. The 11th running of the 2 1/2-mile event on Thursday has attracted a field of seven, but not defending Eclipse Award champion Good Night Shirt (Concern), who won the Georgia Cup (NSA-G1) at Atlanta last Saturday. The probable favorite in the Royal Chase is the amazingly consistent PREEMPTIVE STRIKE (Roanoke), a 10-year-old who has finished third or better in 10 of his last 12 starts dating back to November 2004. Preemptive Strike has held his own in the upper echelons of the sport for several years, but has had mixed success in previous Royal Chase attempts. The runner-up behind champion Hirapour (Ire) in 2004, Preemptive Strike fell while leading early in last year's edition. That race, however, was Preemptive Strike's first start in nearly 19 months, and he subsequently ran well in such notable fixtures as the A. P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-G2) at Saratoga and the Lonesome Glory (NSA-G1) at Belmont. Preemptive Strike led throughout in the March 22 Imperial Cup at Aiken in his seasonal debut, and figures to establish a lead when the flag falls at the start of the Royal Chase. The rest of the Royal Chase field consists of runners in search of their first marquee victory. Some, like BEST ATTACK (Bahri), SOVEREIGN DUTY (Kingmambo) and ORISON (Pulpit), have run well on occasion in the sport's top events. Best Attack was last seen finishing third over boggy ground in the Breeders' Cup Grand National (NSA-G1) at Far Hills, while Orison was only a length second to Good Night Shirt in last fall's Lonesome Glory. Perhaps the most improved is Sovereign Duty, who stepped up from the novice ranks last fall to finish third in the Colonial Cup (NSA-G1) at Camden and captured an allowance/optional claiming hurdle at the same course in his seasonal debut on March 29. The Royal Chase field is rounded out by SWIMMING RIVER (The Wicked North), who tends to race close to the pace, and the mares SWEET SHANI (NZ) (Kashani) and FEELING SO PRETTY (Nordic Legend). Sweet Shani is winless in this country since her importation from Australia, but did run third in the Smithwick and second in the Breeders' Cup Grand National last year. Feeling So Pretty, at 14, is easily the oldest Royal Chase entrant, putting her in the same foal crop as such flat standouts as Silver Charm and Awesome Again. The 86-start veteran was third in the 2006 Royal Chase, but figures to start at a huge price Thursday. In post order, with jockeys and weights, the Royal Chase field is Swimming River, Robert Walsh, 138; Best Attack, Carl Rafter, 146; Sovereign Duty, Danielle Hodsdon, 142; Feeling So Pretty, Richard Boucher,135; Orison, Matthew McCarron, 144; Preemptive Strike, Jody Petty, 152; and Sweet Shani, Xavier Aizpuru, 141.
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