Elkhorn J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Twelve turf veterans are set for the $200,000 Elkhorn S. (G2) on Keeneland's

closing-day program, and we'll tab SUDDEN WAR (Arg) (Sunray Spirit) for top

honors in the 1 1/2-mile affair. A turf allowance winner at Keeneland last

April, the five-year-old gelding went to the sidelines following an unplaced

effort in the 2009 Elkhorn and has returned to the races in excellent form for

Kenny McPeek this winter/spring.

Following a head third in a nine-furlong allowance/optional event at Santa

Anita on New Year's Eve, Sudden War stretched out to a more favorable marathon

distance in the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Obispo H. (G2) and finished third to Bourbon

Bay (Sligo Bay [Ire]) following a front-running trip. He improved off that

effort in the 12-furlong San Luis Rey H. (G2), netting a career-best 107 BRIS

Speed rating for a rallying third, and will receive some class relief off those

commendable performances on Friday. Sudden War is a strong candidate to keep moving

forward over a Keeneland course that he's shown an affinity toward, and the

versatile chestnut can be placed anywhere with his tactical speed. We'll look

for him to sit close before pouncing under Alex Solis.

TIMELESS FASHION (Sky Classic) is the likely pacesetter from his inside post

and looms as a legitimate wire-to-wire threat. A turf allowance winner at

Keeneland in 2008, he ran big in last year's Sycamore S. (G3) when finishing fourth by

less than a length, and Keeneland's turf has surprisingly played fair for speed

this meet. We'll use the Thomas Drury Jr. runner in our multi-race wagers.

EXPANSION (Maria's Mon) registered a 123 BRIS Late Pace rating when annexing

the Red Smith H. (G2) two starts back in November. He made his five-year-old bow

in the February 28 Mac Diarmida S. (G2), but the late runner didn't have much shot

in that spot against the front-running Presious Passion (Royal Anthem). It did

serve as a useful tightener, though, and the Chad Brown trainee is eligible to

rebound with a much-improved showing here. He'll be running late beneath Julien

Leparoux.

TIGER'S ROCK (Giant's Causeway) will make his first start since a 12th in the

Santa Anita H. (G1). A two-time stakes winner over Aqueduct's inner track this

winter, the four-year-old doesn't show much turf form but is bred to excel on

grass. He remains a big question mark at this level, but the Todd Pletcher

runner figures to offer nice value with Garrett Gomez and we'll use him on the

bottom of some exotics.

MUSKETIER (Ger) (Acatenango) ran well early last season, winning the

Singspiel (Can-G3) at Woodbine prior to a second in the Man o' War (G1) at

Belmont Park, but he went off form in his final two appearances and will return

to the races here off a 202-day layoff. We have plenty of respect for Roger

Attfield's ability with layoff horses, and the eight-year-old gray merits

respect for the exotics given his back class. PICK SIX (Dynaformer) will enter

in good form, notching a second in the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) last

time and a close fourth in the San Antonio H. (G2) three back, and the

six-year-old owns a very respectable 3-0-1-2 mark over the local course.

He's another one who merits consideration for the gimmicks in this deep field.

BRASS HAT (Prized) is eligible to outperform our expectations, but we don't

like the post (11) and were disappointed that the nine-year-old gelding didn't

pass any horses in the stretch of the Pan America S. (G3) last time. We'll just

watch his second start back off the layoff. TRANSDUCTION GOLD (Formal Gold)

surprised with a third at 68-1 in the Mervin Muniz and has run well at Keeneland

in the past, but the seven-year-old gelding is too inconsistent for us to back

with any confidence.

BEARPATH (Dynaformer) posted a 19-1 upset over a questionable field in the

Pan America and was no factor in his previous start over Keeneland's turf versus

allowance rivals. ASCERTAIN (Ire) (Intikhab) captured the 2007 Elkhorn, but the

nine-year-old gelding recently returned off a 24-month layoff with a dull

showing and may have lost a step or two over the years. BLUSHING BEAR (Rahy) is

probably facing too much of a class hike. DEMARCATION (Gulch) drew the outermost

post and brings dull form into a race that is likely too far for him.