Hall of Fame

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

While it's no surprise that STRAIGHT STORY (Giant's Causeway) has been

installed as the morning-line favorite for Friday's $150,000 National Museum of

Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga, it is somewhat unexpected that his odds

are pegged at an attractive 7-2. Judging by what the Alan Goldberg trainee has

accomplished so far, we would have ranked him as the prohibitive favorite in

this turf event for sophomores.

Not only has Straight Story been beaten all of a head in the Colonial Turf

Cup (G2) and Virginia Derby (G2), but the dark bay was arguably a trifle unlucky

in each. He was floated ridiculously wide in the Colonial Turf Cup, yet came

again and narrowly failed to catch the rail-skimming Battle of Hastings (GB)

(Royal Applause [GB]). In the Virginia Derby, Straight Story chased a fast pace

on good ground, opened up in the stretch, and was just nailed late by the same

rival. Virginia Derby third Take the Points (Even the Score) came back to win

last Saturday's Secretariat S. (G1), paying a hefty compliment to the top two.

Cutting back in trip to 1 1/8 miles should prove ideal for Straight Story, and

he promises to get a forwardly-placed, ground-saving trip beneath new rider John

Velazquez.

The well-bred EL CRESPO (A.P. Indy) is much better than his sixth in the

Virginia Derby suggests, making him a potential upsetter here at 12-1 on the

morning line. Successful in the Palm Beach S. (G3) at this distance earlier in

the season, the Rusty Arnold pupil was a furiously closing third in the

Arlington Classic S. and a gradually gaining runner-up in the Jefferson Cup

(G2), both races with little to no early pace. El Crespo got a better pace

set-up in the Virginia Derby, but may not have appreciated the rain-softened

ground. With firm turf in the offing at the Spa, and no shortage of early speed

signed on, conditions should be favorable for him to put his best foot forward

for Julien Leparoux. We're not thrilled that he's conceding a fair amount of

weight as the 122-pound highweight, though.

LIME RICKEY (Lemon Drop Kid) is another bringing the strong Colonial Downs

form with him to Saratoga. The Frank Alexander colt was a rallying third in the

Colonial Turf Cup and fourth in the Virginia Derby, and back in March, he

finished second to El Crespo in the Palm Beach. Given the fact that Lime Rickey

is admirably consistent on the grass (12-2-4-4 on the surface), we expect him to

run his usual solid race. Javier Castellano, who last guided the colt to an

allowance score over older horses three starts back, returns to the saddle.

The reliable NO INFLATION (Repriced) has yet to run a bad race on turf

(6-1-4-1), and he was just caught on the line in the American Derby (G2) in his

latest venture. Although the Tom Proctor charge will be facing a tougher group

on Friday, we respect his combination of tactical speed and workmanlike

consistency. COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat) will get a class test in this spot, but

the bay enters on the upswing for Bill Mott. A full brother to multiple Grade 1

turf star After Market, who captured the Hall of Fame in 2006, Courageous Cat is

coming off a game victory in his stakes debut in the A Gift S. at Belmont. He is

another who will likely be in the hunt early. While we suspect that he might be

overbet because of his pedigree and connections, we won't discount his chances

with Kent Desormeaux.

The Christophe Clement-trained SAL THE BARBER (Alphabet Soup) exits a

front-running, 4 1/4-length score in the Don Jack S. at Belmont, and a repeat of

that effort would make him dangerous here. The dark bay won't get the easy,

uncontested lead through slow fractions that he enjoyed last time, however. AL

KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro) encountered trouble en route to his runner-up finish to

Courageous Cat in the A Gift, and with a clean trip, he is eligible to do better

in his debut for Mott. Formerly trained by Todd Pletcher, Al Khali has not

looked entirely straightforward -- he's the one who carried Straight Story out

into the center of the course at Colonial -- and we'd rather watch him deliver

first.

CONSERVATIVE (Unbridled's Song) has not quite lived up to his mouth-watering

pedigree, with his career highlight so far being a runner-up effort in the

Lexington S. (G2) on Keeneland's Polytrack, and he was most recently a

lackluster fifth in the Swaps S. (G2) on Hollywood's Cushion Track. The Shug

McGaughey trainee has not tried the turf since his maiden win in February, so

we'll give him a graded race on the surface. MIDNIGHT MISCHIEF (Medaglia d'Oro)

will be making his grass, and stakes, debut for Roger Attfield. We respect the

connections, but we'd prefer to see how the Woodbine shipper fares at this

level. OUT AT NIGHT (Aptitude), who was beaten in a high-priced claiming event

at Delaware in June, is ambitiously spotted.