Calder Derby J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A dozen sophomores will travel nine panels over the Calder turf course to

contest the $400,000 Calder Derby (G3) on Saturday. Trainer Christophe Clement

will saddle a pair in here, led by Palm Beach S. (G3) victor SPORTING ART (Doneraile

Court), and although the nine-furlong distance may be his limitation, we still like the

talented Kentucky-bred. The bay began his career with two wins in Great Britain,

and followed that with two solid fourth-place stakes tries, including the

Sirenia S. (Eng-G3). Second in his U.S. debut, the colt looked especially good in

the 1 1/8-mile Palm Beach and should be tough to handle once again with

slight improvement. Javier Castellano returns to ride.

TITAN OF INDUSTRY (Giant's Causeway) was a serious factor in the Palm Beach

before tiring late for conditioner Richard Violette. The gelded chestnut has

faced top competition in nearly every start of his career and has held up well,

including a third in the Laurel Futurity at two. The three-year-old should

improve in his second off the mini-break and with a slightly better trip, and we'll consider him a live contender under Cornelio Velasquez.

FLYING DISMOUNT (Proud Citizen) was a strong second in the Palm Beach and

gives Clement a solid one-two punch in this lucrative contest. The bay colt

failed to hit the board in two tries as a freshman for Todd Pletcher, but has

blossomed under Clement's care, drawing off for two Tampa scores prior to

his fine stakes debut. Rene Douglas will be in the irons.

EL SULTRY SUN (Eltish) is a viable top three candidate in here for John

Kimmel, despite his horrible outside post. The talented Florida-bred conquered

the Sophomore Turf S. at Tampa most recently and smoked a bullet half-mile in

preparation for his graded debut. The chestnut colt impressed in his first career

start at

Belmont last year and has yet to run worse than second in three lifetime outings, so we'll

use him in a lot of our gimmicks at a square price.

TOUR IRELAND (Tour d'Or) has been extremely impressive from a visual

standpoint in both career tries for Noel Hickey, and we give the late runner a

shot to earn a nice paycheck in this field. Owned and bred by Hickey as well,

the chestnut colt improved nicely from start one to two, although his first

start was a thing of beauty in itself. We're never sure how to gauge this type

when they face a field as deep as this, but he's one to consider at a big price.

RUN SULLY RUN (Cherokee Run) defeated our top choice two back and was likely

done in by the widest post in the Palm Beach, so he's eligible to improve for

Cam Gambolati. The Kentucky-bred chestnut has worked well in advance of this and

should have good early positioning with his nice draw, so he's an exotics threat

in our minds. Joe Bravo will once again be at the controls on this one.

DREAM MAESTRO (Concerto) was a good second in the Holy Bull S. (G3) last out

and will make his turf debut in here for Bill Kaplan. The chestnut gelding will

be making his seventh start in less than four months, and he's a mystery on the

sod, so we'll let him beat us on this occasion. HE'S EZE (Silver Deputy) doesn't

look good enough to be more than a pace presence in here, but he could improve

some in his grassy debut.

HIGHLY HONORED (Double Honor) finished in midpack against state-bred foes

last out and will likely find this group much more difficult to cope with. WISE

ANSWER (Wised Up) has ability, but we feel he might need a rest after viewing his past

performance lines of late.

AFLEET BOB (Northern Afleet) was a sharp maiden winner against Florida-bred

foes but looks like nothing more than a brief pacesetter in this field. ACAI

(Three Wonders) is still a maiden and beat just one horse in his lone turf

effort, so we'll pass.