American Turf

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

We love STORMALORY (Storm Cat) to rally home a winner in Friday's $150,000

American Turf S. (G3) for Bill Mott at Churchill Downs. The sophomore colt has

picked up his game since transferring to the green after a useful juvenile

campaign, proving adept on both firm and yielding turf courses, and exits a

convincing score in the Transylvania S. (G3) at this 1 1/16-mile trip. The

talented bay should save ground in

the early going prior to kicking past his foes late beneath Julien Leparoux.

SKIPADATE (Skip Away) ran a closing fourth in the Transylvania behind

our top pick last out and could be a live contender at big odds for Mark Casse.

The sophomore was a head shy on two different occasions in stakes tests at two,

and following a few rough outings, he seems to have righted the ship while back

on his preferred surface. Shaun Bridgmohan will guide the live longshot.

BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) has proven simply too good for

his Southern California foes in his last pair for Jeff Mullins, and a repeat of

those showings gives the three-year-old a big chance under Tyler Baze. The

import took the La Puente S. with ease in his latest, and if he takes to this

lawn, he could give our top pick a run for his money.

Grade 3 turf winner BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic) ran creditably against the

best in the West prior to a poor finish in the Lane's End S. (G2), but if we

throw that Polytrack race out, he looks like a legitimate threat on this day. Trained by

Todd Pletcher, the dark bay has tactical speed and might get the jump

on the late runners, and if he handles the course, he could very well win this.

Garrett Gomez will be up.

Dania Beach S. winner JACK SPRATT (Candy Ride [Arg]) tried tougher foes in

his last two with little success, but the colt should challenge this field late

with his signature turf performance. The Michael Maker pupil broke his maiden

over this sod and finished a close third in the subsequent Grand Canyon H. last

fall, and he should get a good trip just off the early tempo under Eibar Coa.

Pace presence TURFISTE (Military) could be alone early and has proven in the

past that he has some fight to him for conditioner Robert Holthus. The dark bay

finished second by a head in his lone try at about one mile, but if the rains fall

and the course is good or yielding, he'll be plenty tough due to the speed bias

that often occurs on the lawn when it's wet.

BUNKER HILL (Trippi) is a nose and neck away from being unbeaten from five tries

for Derek Ryan, and the colt will be making his first try on the weeds in here.

We have no clue if the Florida-bred will handle the grass, and rise in class, so

we'll just use him underneath for now.

ORTHODOX (Pulpit) will almost surely try to press the early tempo in here,

but we can't see him hanging around late. POINTING HOME (Point Given), second in

both of his turf starts, drew widest of all and would need serious improvement to

threaten this field.

BRUCE N AUTUMN (Lemon Drop Kid) broke his maiden here but hasn't finished

better than fifth since. We'll look elsewhere.