Aristides BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven sprinters will settle Saturday's $150,000 Aristides Breeders' Cup S.

(G3) at Churchill Downs, and we're not sure what to do with FABULOUS STRIKE

(Smart Strike). He's been earning incredible BRIS Speed ratings at Mountaineer

Park, including a 122 three starts back, and looms as the probable pacesetter

with his early speed. Fabulous Strike looks very dangerous, but we'll use SAINT

ANDDAN (A.P. Indy) on top.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, the late-blooming Saint Anddan made his stakes bow

two starts back, winning the Duncan F. Kenner Breeders' Cup S. at Fair Grounds.

The five-year-old was dismissed at 8-1 in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) last time

out and turned in a big performance, sitting just off the lead before seizing

command at

the top of the stretch, and the bay horse earned a career-best 103 Speed rating.

Saint Anddan is going very well presently and likes racing under the Twin Spires

(3-2-0-1). We like his chances.

GAFF (Maria's Mon) is one-for-one on Churchill's main track, posting an

impressive allowance victory, and the stalker figures to sit a perfect trip in

this race. The Steve Asmussen runner exits a sharp score in the Aegon Turf

Sprint S. (G3), a five-furlong turf affair on Kentucky Oaks (G1) day, and the

versatile five-year-old can switch surfaces effectively. Gaff owns three wins at

the six-furlong distance, and he could add to that total on Saturday.

GREG'S GOLD (Lake George) will attempt to capitalize upon a hot pace with a

ferocious late rally. Winner of the 2005 Bing Crosby H. (G1), the six-year-old

gelding appears to be rounding back into top form for conditioner David Hofmans,

capturing the Tiznow S. at Hollywood last out, and we like the way he's training

for this event, with a pair of recent six-furlong works in preparation. Greg's

Gold is a threat to run past all of his rivals here.

Fabulous Strike might outperform our expectations, but he faces a class check

in this spot. He's obviously stepped up his game in his recent starts for

trainer Todd Beattie, winning his last three efforts by daylight margins, but

we'll try to beat him in his Churchill debut.

OFF DUTY (Yes It's True) likes Churchill (three-for-four) and merits

consideration for a minor award in this spot. The improving Lynn Whiting trainee

gained valuable seasoning when finishing third in the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3)

last out, and we wouldn't be surprised to see Off Duty keep moving forward.

COUGAR CAT (Storm Cat) will add to the pace, but the Ronny Werner charge

might need an easier spot to be effective. SANTANA STRINGS (Wheaton) hasn't been

the same horse since capturing the 2005 Amsterdam S. (G2). We'll let him turn

his form around without us.