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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Sunday's $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) has drawn a contentious field of 12, and we're going with BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) to return to his winning ways in this 10-furlong test. The Jeff Mullins charge has captured four of his eight races this season, including the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) and Virginia Derby (G2), as well as placed in three other starts. The bay gelding took on older rivals for the first time in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) two back, finishing fourth, but signaled his return to the competitive ranks with a head second last out in the Oak Tree Derby (G2). Garrett Gomez will take over riding duties from a sidelined Tyler Baze, and Battle of Hastings could end the year on a high note. BLACK BEAR ISLAND (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) returns to the distance over which he posted a head second in the Secretariat S. (G1) in early August. The bay colt was transferred to the barn of Julio Canani following his U.S. bow, and was just a half-length back of the winner in sixth when making his first start for his new trainer against allowance/optional claiming rivals last out. The sophomore probably needed that race off the break, and has been working well in the interim. Black Bear Island looks more than capable of running down the leaders in this one, and will get Joe Talamo aboard. STRAIGHT STORY (Giant's Causeway) was just a head back of Battle of Hastings in the Colonial Turf Cup and Virginia Derby, and made his last start another head second, this time in the Jamaica H. (G1) against TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score). The Alan Goldberg charge has been knocking on the door of a graded win for quite some time, and could finally get the job done here. The dark bay colt appears the likely speed of this race, and could lead from gate to wire under Mike Smith. Take the Points captured the Secretariat, then returned off a two-month break to add the Jamaica to his line last out. However, the Todd Pletcher-trained gray has finished behind Battle of Hastings the last two times they met and his numbers tailed off a bit for the Jamaica. Take the Points may be finally feeling the effects of a long season, and though he has the talent to take this one, we're just tabbing him for the exotics. Edgar Prado has the call. THE USUAL Q. T. (Unusual Heat) has won his last four races, including posting a slight 10-1 upset in the Oak Tree Derby last out. The James Cassidy charge just held Battle of Hastings by a head on the line, so the extra furlong here is probably not to his benefit. Nonetheless, the bay gelding has proven his ability against top level runners and should be included in the exotics. AL KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro) scored an easy win in the Saranac S. (G3) two back, but tired to fifth after pressing the winner in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) most recently. The bay ridgling has flashed talent in his career, and could make a run on the gimmicks. METEORE (Pulpit) won the La Jolla H. (G2) in August, then finished fifth in the Oak Tree Derby last out. The Richard Mandella runner earned a career-best 102 BRIS Speed figure for that last effort, but his numbers prior to that one are tolerable, at best. SAL THE BARBER (Alphabet Soup) added a victory in the Calder Derby (G3) to his score card, but also owns subpar numbers. Neither one looks capable of making an impact in the top three, but should be considered for the bottom of the gimmicks if their prices are high enough. SIR AL (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) appeared to enjoy the soft going in the Hawthorne Derby (G3) last out, running second, but is very unlikely to do as well in this one based on his numbers. ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat) might attempt to challenge Straight Story for front-running duties, but doesn't appear fast enough to offer much of a battle. RESCUE SQUAD (Dynaformer) and BLAZING SPIRIT (Cherokee Run) both appear out of their class against these.
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