Aragorn towers over Oak Tree

The Neil Drysdale-trained ARAGORN (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) towers over his

seven opponents in Saturday's $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G2). The

chestnut has reeled off three straight graded stakes victories in compelling

fashion -- the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1), Eddie Read H. (G1) and Del

Mar Breeders' Cup Mile H. (G2) most recently -- while none of his rivals has

managed to win even one graded event. With usual pilot Corey Nakatani aboard,

Aragorn will tote the highest burden of 123 pounds as he turns in his final prep

for the November 4 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Del Mar Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up WILD BUDDY (Line in the Sand) is back

for another crack at the heavy favorite. The Steve Knapp charge has run

respectably in graded company over the past year, but he has yet to win in six

attempts over the course.

Stakes victor BUCKLAND MANOR (Bien Bien) was second in the 2005 Frank E.

Kilroe Mile H. (G1), and he's finished in the frame in the past two editions of

this race. Although the six-year-old veteran has been on the shelf since late

March, he's been working steadily for conditioner Paco Gonzalez.

International flavor comes courtesy of the Irish-based LORD ADMIRAL (El Prado

[Ire]), whose last win, and lone stakes score, came in June 2005. The Charles

O'Brien trainee has been a consistent performer, placing mainly at the Group 3

level, and will get the services of Alex Solis.

THAT'S AN OUTRAGE (Quiet American) was Grade 1-placed as a juvenile on the

main track and checked in third in the Californian S. (G2) two starts back, but

he has never run in a stakes on the turf. COURTNALL (Cherokee Run), APALACHEE

TIGER (Tiger Ridge) and SALTY HUMOR (Distorted Humor) have not hit the board in

their previous forays into stakes company.

In post position order, the complete field comprises Courtnall, Pat

Valenzuela; Wild Buddy, Jon Court; Aragorn; Apalachee Tiger, Martin Pedroza;

Buckland Manor, Jose Valdivia Jr.; That's an Outrage, Tyler Baze; Lord Admiral;

and Salty Humor, Aaron Gryder.

Except for Aragorn, each of the others will carry 119 pounds.