Bernard Baruch

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 10 will go postward in the $200,000 Bernard Baruch H.

(G2) at Saratoga on Saturday. The Bobby Frankel-trained PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano

[Ger]) comes off a stinker in the Manhattan H. (G1) in June, but his previous

form was so good that we're willing to give the talented five-year-old a pass

for that and tab him in here. The bay began his good form run with a closing

third in the Citation H. (G1), followed by a close second in the San Gabriel H.

(G2), and capped by a smart score in the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) at Fair

Grounds in March. The closer ranks 1st in BRIS Prime Power (163.3) and will be

reacquainted with pilot Edgar Prado.

THORN SONG (Unbridled's Song) captured the Firecracker H. (G2) two prior and

finished a respectable third in the Fourstardave H. (G2) in advance of this for

trainer Dale Romans. The gray five-year-old has a lot of things in his corner --

his natural early speed in a race devoid of it, his local mark (3-2-0-1), and

his ability to run well over firm ground or turf with give in it. The likely favorite

will be the one to catch turning for home.

OPERATION RED DAWN (Miswaki) has won or placed in 15 of 17 career outings,

all on the green, and comes in off a decent third in the Poker H. (G3) last

month for turf dynamo Christophe Clement. The gelded six-year-old has placed in

three of his last four graded tries and seems more than capable of doing the

same in this bunch. We'd like the dark bay more if a hot pace were expected.

DISTORTED REALITY (Distorted Humor) didn't have the smoothest of trips when a

close fourth last out in the Fourstardave, and the Todd Pletcher trainee is yet

another exotics contender in this field. The consistent chestnut topped a solid

group in the Academy Award S. two back, including Sword Dancer Invitational S.

(G1) hero Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge), and his 2008 form looks as good or

better than that of his sophomore season, so we'll use this one in our plays

under John Velazquez.

Defending champion SHAKIS (Ire) (Machiavellian) is the wildcard in this field for us, as the

Kiaran McLaughlin trainee has the back class to challenge for the win, but his

recent form is awful. The eight-year-old was no factor in the Manhattan, Dixie

S. (G2) or Maker's Mark Mile S. (G1) in his three 2008 tries, and while this

field can't compare to those, it's still difficult to make a case for the

Shadwell colorbearer in here.

A closing third to Shakis in this race in 2007, DRUM MAJOR (Dynaformer) has not raced

since and will attempt to topple this bunch off the lengthy layoff for George

Weaver. In looking back at the six-year-old's form, it appears that he fares

better in his second off the bench and the rail draw could compromise his

chances on this day.

We've anticipated WAR MONGER (War Chant) being much better than he has been

of late following his fine fall/winter campaign, but the Bill Mott charge

continues to disappoint us. The occasionally brilliant Florida-bred could pop a

big one with the right trip over a firm turf course, but the widest post of all

and the possibility of moisture on the lawn don't bode well for his chances. YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) earned a career-topping 99 BRIS Speed

number while second at Arlington last out, but the five-year-old has yet to

prove that he belongs with this company and we'll let him beat us from post 9.

SENSATIONAL HUMOR (Distorted Humor) is an honest performer for New York-based

conditioner Tom Bush, but he's a cut below the best in here and Bush is just 4 percent at the current meeting. ELUSIVE FORT (SAf) (Fort Wood)

has yet to duplicate his South African form, so the dark bay still appears to be a cut below

this cast.