Citation J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Friday's $400,000 Citation H. (G1) kicks off the three-day Turf Festival at

Hollywood Park, and a strong field of 12 is set for 1 1/16-mile test. ASHKAL WAY

(Ire) (Ashkalani) has shipped West from New York off a pair of stellar wins in

the Kelso Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Bernard Baruch H. (G2), but we'll try to

beat the likely favorite with ROB ROY (Lear Fan), who will be making his first

start under the direction of Neil Drysdale.

An English Group 2 winner earlier this season, Rob Roy faced top-class

competition in his next four starts in Europe and turned in a couple of very

respectable efforts, including a third in the Sussex S. (Eng-G1) in early

August. In his final start before shipping stateside, the Champion S. (Eng-G1)

at Newmarket, Rob Roy offered a strong rally to reach contention inside the

final quarter-mile before settling for an excellent second behind the top-class

mare Pride (Peintre Celebre), who had just missed in the Prix de l'Arc

de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Rob Roy edged out multiple Group 1 hero Hurricane Run (Ire)

(Montjeu [Ire]) in the Champion, and he was sent to Churchill Downs for the

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Unfortunately for his supporters, the four-year-old

colt completely missed the break and trailed far back in another area code

during the early stages. When he finally hit his best stride, it was too late,

but Rob Roy offered a strong run 10-wide to finish only 3 1/2 lengths back of

the winner in fifth, earning a 106 BRIS Speed and Late Pace rating. He's worked

twice at Hollywood in preparation for the Citation, and we'll look for him to be

much better prepared for the start on Friday. New jockey Corey Nakatani has been

hot of late, winning five races last Saturday at Hollywood, and he's one of the

game's best riders on the turf.

Ashkal Way owns a terrific late kick, recording a 113 Late Pace rating for

his score in the Bernard Baruch, and the Citation should set up well for the

Godolphin colorbearer. He hasn't been facing the stiffest competition back East,

but the four-year-old gelding always delivers a top showing, winning five of six

starts since arriving in the United States. He might be six for six if there had

been

any pace in the Fourstardave H. (G2) three races back, but Ashkal Way still

delivered a very respectable performance to finish second that afternoon. The

Saeed bin Suroor charge should be rolling in the stretch.

THREE VALLEYS (Diesis [GB]) advanced into a threatening position before

flattening out in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) 48 days ago, but he runs well

fresh for Bobby Frankel and appears capable of an improved showing here. Third

in the 2004 Citation, the five-year-old opened his 2006 campaign with a solid win

in a Grade 3 event at Monmouth Park, notching a 118 Late Pace rating, and he

earned another whopping 113 Late Pace number last time. Ramon Dominguez, who

was up for his lone win this year, regains the mount, and Three Valleys should

receive the perfect setup to make his presence felt in the stretch.

BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan), who will race uncoupled with stablemate Rob Roy,

upset his rivals at 8-1 under a heady ride from Pat Valenzuela in the Woodbine

Mile (Can-G1) last out. We're not sure about the quality of the competition in

that spot, but Becrux certainly stepped up with a much improved showing that

afternoon. He hadn't shown the ability to challenge against this level of

competition in the past, but the improving gelding remains an intriguing option

for the exotics at long odds.

SILENT NAME (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) set a rapid pace in the Breeders' Cup

Mile, ripping off opening splits in :23 1/5 and :46 3/5, and held gamely for

sixth after being displaced on the lead turning for home. We'll look for a

return to rating tactics in this spot. He was no match for Aragorn (Ire) in his lone

start over Hollywood's turf, finishing third in the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile

(G1), and faces another difficult challenge in this spot, but the Grade

2-winning Silent Name remains a candidate for a minor award. SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul)

is a two-time Grade 1 winner at Hollywood and has been freshened off a decent

fourth in the Woodbine Mile. The Ron McAnally-trained veteran six-year-old will

likely show speed from the start, but he'll probably face some pressure. Sweet

Return has the class to be a factor, but he's hit the board only once in six

starts this year and looks like a risky investment here.

COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid) offered a decent run to dead-heat for fourth in

the Shadwell Mile last time with eventual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Miesque's

Approval (Miesque's Son), but he's never run over the course and didn't attract

regular rider Julien Leparoux, who we surmise would have made the trip if

Patrick Biancone was keen about the gray colt's win chances. Cosmonaut is

versatile enough to handle a variety of distances, but we'll let him beat us at 8 1/2

furlongs on Friday. HENDRIX (Sultry Song) hasn't been much of a factor in his

recent attempts and will probably find this company too difficult. COURTNALL

(Cherokee Run), who runs coupled with Hendrix, is also facing a very daunting

class hike.

WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan) will likely come out winging it on the front end

after the break, but he doesn't seem sharp enough to sustain his speed at this level.

BRAVO MAESTRO (Stravinsky) will be making his U.S. debut for conditioner Ben

Cecil, but he appears to want more ground and hasn't shown enough abroad for us

to recommend his chances. STORMIN AWAY (Skip Away) exits a fifth in a stakes

race on the dirt at Fairplex Park and looks overmatched here.