American Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $250,000 American Derby (G2) is a supreme challenge. Deep with

talent, the 1 3/16-mile event attracted 14 runners and will serve as an

excellent prep for the August 12 Secretariat S. (G1). Dermot Weld will send out

Irish stakes winner GOLDEN ARROW (Ire) (Danehill), and the exceptional turf

conditioner has captured three previous runnings of the American Derby,

including two of the past three years.

Golden Arrow might be the best three-year-old that Weld has sent over.

Runner-up by two lengths to George Washington (Danehill) in last year's National

S. (Ire-G1), the bay colt opened his 2006 campaign with a close second in a

Group 3 event and a fifth behind eventual Irish Derby (Ire-G1) winner Dylan

Thomas (Danehill) in a Group 2. In the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1),

Golden Arrow checked in a creditable fifth, only 2 1/4 lengths back of runner-up

George Washington, and he tackled older horses last time out, finishing fourth

to Mustameet (Sahm), who defeated Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) runner-up Ace (Ire) (Danehill)

in his following outing. Golden Arrow has been facing much better company in

Europe and will drop a lot of weight while getting first-time Lasix on Saturday.

Jockey Pat Smullen should be able to save ground from the rail post before

rallying boldly through the stretch, and Weld excels at getting the most out of

his runners first-time off the plane.

STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe) made a terrific seasonal bow in the Crown

Royal American Turf (G3), defeating Go Between (Point Given) by a neck, and

captured a listed stakes next time out over yielding turf at Lone Star Park. The

dark bay colt suffered his first setback this year in the Colonial

Turf Cup, finishing a late-running sixth, and we'll admit to concerns over

whether he'll reproduce his best form off his last effort. However, we have a

tremendous respect for trainer Patrick Biancone and love the hot-riding

Frenchman Julien Leparoux. Stream Cat is one of the most talented three-year-old

turf horses in America, and he can really finish, earning a 110 BRIS Late Pace

rating for his Crown Royal American Turf score. The stretch runner could be

along in time.

AMIGONI (Ire) (Danehill) will give us the opportunity for some value in the

exotics. Listed at 15-1 on the morning line, the Irish Group 3 winner squared

off against Golden Arrow and George Washington last year in Europe but made his

three-year-old bow on the main track at Pimlico in an off-the-turf

allowance/optional claiming event in early June. Amigoni finally got back to the

turf last time at Colonial Downs, easily winning a 1 1/16-mile event, and he

should appreciate the added ground on Saturday. Graham Motion is an outstanding

trainer of European imports, and Amigoni owns room for improvement off his

encouraging performance last time. He could easily outperform his morning line

and possibly challenge for the upset.

CAN'T BEAT IT (Atticus) is another attractive candidate for the top three at

a price. The Marty Wolfson trainee ran big on the turf at Gulfstream Park

earlier this season, winning the Hallandale Breeders' Cup S. in mid-February,

and was freshened following an unplaced effort over the main track in the

Fountain of Youth S. (G2) two starts back. The dark bay colt was rank off the

layoff during the early stages of the Colonial Turf Cup, compromising his

chances to deliver his best showing, and he's a serious threat to show more here

if he can settle early.

California shipper NIAGARA CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway) invades off a

commendable second in the Cinema Breeders' Cup H. (G3), and the favorite in that

event returned to capture the tougher division of the Oceanside S. on Wednesday

at Del Mar. His lone victory came on the turf, and Niagara Causeway owns a solid

4-1-2-0 mark over the sod. We like the way he's going presently and wouldn't be

surprised to see a strong showing from the Ron Sticka charge from just off the

pace. OUTPERFORMANCE (Aptitude) is an intriguing prospect, but he drew a

terrible post (14). The lightly raced Richard Violette pupil finished fast to

capture the Hill Prince S. (G3) when making his stakes debut two starts back,

registering a 102 Late Pace number, and he closed ground for fifth in the

Colonial Cup Turf while taking a significant class hike. Outperformance is

eligible to keep improving, but the outside post will likely make it more

difficult.

KINGSHIP (King Cugat), who broke his maiden by eight lengths two starts back

on the grass at Churchill Downs, took to the Chicago turf last time, leading

wire to wire in the Arlington Classic (G3). He figures to like the additional

ground with his pedigree, but the Ronny Werner charge drew post 11 and will face

more pressure on the front end here. Kingship is a promising, up-and-coming

runner in the three-year-old turf ranks, but he's still a little light on

experience. STORM TREASURE (Storm Boot) faltered last time as the favorite in

the Arlington Classic and must step up in class here. The Scott Blasi runner

owns some promise on the grass, finishing a close third when making his turf

debut in the Jefferson Cup two starts back, but we're not convinced that this is

his optimum distance. UNION AVENUE (Gone West) is a good-looking, lightly raced

runner from the Bill Mott shedrow, but he didn't beat much when making his

stakes debut last time and we'll just watch to see how he fares at the graded

level.

DESERT WHEAT (Wheaton) recorded a sharp allowance victory the last time he

caught firm turf, but he'll probably find this company too difficult in his

first start for Mott. TAHOE WARRIOR (Carson City) will add to the pace and owns

some back class, but he might prefer a little less ground. CHARLEY TANGO

(Maria's Mon) has taken to the turf in his last two starts for Michael Stidham,

but he's been facing much softer competition and will have to step up here from post

13. ICY RIDGE (Ire) (Orpen) hasn't shown enough in his recent efforts for us to

recommend his chances. MURCH (Mr. Greeley) will make his stakes debut here. We

wouldn't be surprised to see him show more down the road for trainer Helen Pitts,

but he doesn't look ready for this kind of competition.