Fields shaping up for American Derby, Stars & Stripes

WinStar Farm's General Election, winner of the Arlington Classic -- the first

leg of Arlington International Racecourse's Mid-America Triple -- on May 25, is

slated to return to Chicago to pursue the second Grade 3 leg of the series in

the American Derby on July 13. 

Based in Kentucky with conditioner Kellyn Gorder, the son of Harlan's Holiday

has been aimed toward the 1 3/16-mile turf event since his local victory at 13-1

odds. The Keeneland-based trainee has been working steadily toward this for his

connections who are confident he will enjoy the additional furlong.

Two of the beaten favorites in the Arlington Classic, Procurement and Admiral

Kitten, are probable to return for the American Derby to attempt to avenge their

respective defeats.

Glen Hill Farm's Procurement suffered a wide trip in the Arlington Classic,

but made a strong bid to finish fifth in the 12-horse field beaten only 1 1/2

lengths for trainer Tom Proctor. The son of Milwaukee Brew has been training

locally since. Previous to the Arlington Classic, Procurement won the La Puente

Stakes at Santa Anita at nine furlongs and could appreciate the additional real

estate in the American Derby. 

Arlington Classic beaten favorite Admiral Kitten is probable to return after

finishing a closing second at odds of just under 9-5 for leading national owners

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker. The stretch-running son of

Kitten's Joy similarly ran out of ground in the American Turf Stakes on Kentucky

Derby Day three weeks prior to the Arlington Classic and in an allowance at

Keeneland three weeks prior to that. All of those races were at 1 1/16 miles. In

the American Derby, Admiral Kitten will come into the race from a seven-week

freshening and should appreciate the additional furlong.

A couple of intriguing possibles for the American Derby include Five Iron and

Chamois. The former, a recent stakes winner at Woodbine in the Victoria Park

Stakes over nine Polytrack furlongs on June 16, is owned by Fred M. Allor and

looks to be on the improve. Trained by Robert Martin, the son of Sharp Humor

earned a 103 Equibase Speed Figure in that wire-to-wire victory, which came

after a third to Queen's Plate morning-line favorite Up With the Birds in the

Marine Stakes May 26.

The ever-dangerous Christophe Clement stable has late-nominated the lightly

raced Chamois for owners Jon and Sarah Kelly.  In just four starts, the son

of Smart Strike has won a maiden, an allowance (both at Aqueduct Racetrack) and

was a closing third in the Hill Prince Stakes on June 15 at Belmont Park. 

The homebred has yet to take a step backward in his speed figures and should

appreciate more ground, especially considering his damsire is Lomitas -- sire of

2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream.

Also on next Saturday's Million Preview Day, Team Block's Ioya Bigtime has to

prove he has not lost a step in his title defense in the Grade 3 Stars and

Stripes. Still, the talented son of Dynaformer could be difficult to conquer on

his home turf after a seven-week freshening for trainer Chris Block.

Even with his local following, Ioya Bigtime most likely will not claim

betting favoritism. That role will probably go to the streaking Dark Cove, a

muscular son of Medaglia d'Oro trained by Maker for the Ramseys who beat Ioya

Bigtime in their last two meetings. Last out, Dark Cove impressively outpaced

Atigun and Najjaar in Churchill Downs' Louisville Handicap to win by a

half-length. Previous to that, the six-year-old horse won the Elkhorn by a

widening 4 1/4 lengths at Keeneland. Both of those races were at the same

12-furlong distance as the Stars and Stripes. 

Midwest Thoroughbreds' The Pizza Man is currently probable for the race in

what will be his first attempt at a marathon distance. Bred to enjoy the

stretch-out, the son of Breeders' Cup Turf winner English Channel is coming off

a late-closing second to Coalport in the 1 1/16-mile restricted Black Tie Affair

Handicap over the local turf. Tom Amoss conditions the reigning champion

Illinois-bred three-year-old.

Another coming out of the Black Tie Affair is Team Block's Suntracer, who

finished third in last year's Stars and Stripes behind his stablemate. Under

Block's tutelage, the son of Kitten's Joy has been aimed at this race since the

spring. In the Black Tie Affair, Suntracer made a strong bid in midstretch to

finish fourth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths.

The most intriguing possible for the Stars and Stripes is multiple South

American Group 1 winner Quick Casablanca, from the barn of Christophe Clement. 

In two stateside starts, the son of Until Sundown has finished second in the

Good Reward Stakes on turf and unplaced in the Brooklyn Handicap on dirt, both

at Belmont Park. Owned by Pablo Gomez, Quick Casablanca won the Chilean Derby in

2012 at 12 furlongs on the grass. 

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