Count Fleet Sprint

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven are set for Friday's $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) on the Apple

Blossom (G1) undercard, and CUSTOM FOR CARLOS (More Than Ready) is the one to

beat as the 8-5 choice on the morning line. The multiple Grade 3 winner looks

formidable with recent BRIS Speed ratings of 109 and 106, but we'll take a stand

against the chalk with the late-running COSMIC (El Prado [Ire]).

Trained by Cecil Borel, Cosmic equaled a career-best 103 BRIS Speed rating

when recording an excellent one-length score in the King Cotton S. two starts

back. The strong closer posted a 111 BRIS Late Pace rating for his dynamic finish

that afternoon, but he suffered a troubled trip when finishing seventh over a

wet-fast track in the Hot Springs S. last time. He's scored three of his last

four wins under fast conditions, and we'll draw a line through his last

effort and look for the five-year-old to relish the expected pace conditions on

Friday. With three confirmed speedballs in the seven-horse field, Cosmic should

have a good set-up for his late-running theatrics beneath Calvin Borel.

NATIVE RULER (Elusive Quality) will look to make an impact from just off the

pace with Chris Emigh. An impressive victor in the 2009 King Cotton, he finished

fourth in the Hot Springs S. last out when returning from a lengthy layoff and is

eligible to move forward off the tightener for Chris Richard. Three-for-four at

Oaklawn, the six-furlong specialist is well-drawn in post 2 and merits serious

win consideration.

Custom for Carlos worked hard to eke out a narrow win over Past the Point

(Indian Charlie) in the Mr. Prospector S. (G3) two starts back and exits a

runner-up finish in the Toboggan S. (G3) at Aqueduct. Trained by Eddie

Kenneally, the front runner has the class to get the job done here, but he'll

need to withstand potentially blistering early fractions in his Oaklawn debut.

We'll try to beat him at short odds.

CHIEF OF AFFAIRS (Yonaguska) is very quick, registering century-topping BRIS

E1 Pace numbers in his recent starts, and exits a sharp 5 1/4-length score over

allowance/optional claiming rivals. We may have selected him on top if Custom

for Carlos wasn't in the field and will still use the Bret Calhoun trainee in

some exotics. He'll take the field as far as he can on the front end.

RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday) exits a solid second in the Hot Springs and

appears to be rounding into top form for Steve Asmussen. The five-year-old still

has some class concerns at this level, but the stalker remains a threat for a

minor award. EZ DREAMER (In Excess [Ire]) could add to the pace before

weakening. SILVER EDITION (Silver Deputy) probably needs an easier spot to be

effective.