Carleton F. Burke J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Long-distance turf runners will be featured in Saturday's $100,000 Carleton

F. Burke H. (G3), and DON INCAUTO (Arg) (Roy) has an excellent chance to record

his first U.S. victory. A Group 1 winner in his native Argentina, the gray horse

made his U.S. debut on New Year's Day, but he wasn't seen again under silks

until the one-mile War Chant S. on October 9. That event served strictly as a

tightener, and we'll look for the Darrell Vienna trainee to run much better

while stretching out in distance.

ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill) has failed to win in six U.S. starts, but he's

been very competitive, placing in four of his last five attempts. He's likely to

draw plenty of support off his last start, a fine third to The Tin Man

(Affirmed) in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1), but

we'll use him on the bottom of the exacta.

RUNAWAY DANCER (Runaway Groom) scored a good win in the Escondido H. at Del

Mar two starts back and has won over the turf at Santa Anita. The late-running

gray relishes a route of ground, and he's run well the last two times Alex Solis

was up. Runaway Dancer will likely be rolling in the stretch.

SYMPHONY SID (Unbridled) exits a decent effort over the local turf and will

take Saturday's field as far as he can on the front end. The Mike Mitchell

trainee will likely face little pressure while establishing moderate fractions,

and he's got a chance to hold for a minor award.

SARAFAN (Lear Fan), a $2.6 million earner, is unplaced in his two starts this

year. The nine-year-old gelding's best days are behind him, but the veteran

still has Neil Drysdale in his corner and is a threat to wake up with an

improved showing. LABIRINTO (Theatrical [Ire]) participated in the 2003 Carleton

Burke, finishing second by a neck, but he's raced only four times since then. He

returned from a 1 1/2-year layoff to finish fourth in an allowance/optional

claiming event at Del Mar last time out, and the eight-year-old gelding is

eligible to improve off that effort. However, we'll just watch to see how the

old timer fares.

MIGHTY MYSTERIOUS (Mystery Storm) was claimed for $10,000 earlier this year

and was no factor in his last two efforts versus stakes rivals. Maiden winner

CONALL CEARNACH (Cozzene) was no match for the winner in a 1 1/4-mile, entry

level allowance most recently and now steps up to face stakes rivals.