High Cotton returns at Gulfstream on Wednesday

Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) runner-up HIGH COTTON (Dixie Union) will take

his first step on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for trainer Todd Pletcher in

Wednesday's 9TH race at Gulfstream Park. The Peachtree Stable colorbearer rates

the 9-5 morning line favorite in the one-mile allowance feature, which has drawn

a full field of 12 sophomores along with two also-eligibles. 

Unraced since that fine second to Private Vow (Broken Vow) at Churchill Downs

last November, High Cotton had finished just a neck behind Catcominatcha (Tale

of the Cat) in the Iroquois S. (G3) at the Louisville, Kentucky, oval in his

prior start. The bay colt has been working steadily at Palm Meadows in advance

of his seasonal reappearance, and he will break from post 10 with John Velazquez

in the saddle.

The second choice at 3-1 on the morning line is the Steve Asmussen-trained

STORM TREASURE (Storm Boot). Also making his first start since November, the

chestnut scored an impressive 7 1/4-length maiden victory over a mile at

Churchill Downs in his last outing. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan reunites with the

colt, who has drawn post 5.

Several other sophomores merit consideration in this contest. Trainer John

Ward sends out STRONG CONTENDER (Maria's Mon), a debut maiden winner at

Arlington Park last August in his only start, and Edgar Prado takes the call.

Recent first-out maiden winner ROAMIN MURPHY (Grindstone), a Tim Ritchey pupil,

and ICE N LEMON (Acceptable), exiting a third to the well regarded Barbican (A.P.

Indy) in an allowance at this course and distance for conditioner Nick Zito,

could step up and have something to say about the finish.

Earlier on the card, another Grade 2 runner-up will make his seasonal debut

in the 6TH race, a 1 3/8-mile allowance on the turf. Stronach Stables' SILVER

WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup) lost by a nose in the National Museum of Racing Hall of

Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga after being caught in traffic on the far turn, then

came back in the Saranac S. (G3) and again wound up losing the photo-finish

after a wide trip. The Bill Mott trainee has been out of action since those

Saratoga wars, but he recently posted a bullet work at Payson Park. Cornelio

Velasquez will partner the 2-1 morning line favorite from the inside post.

Other notables in the eight-horse field include Zito's INDY STORM (A.P.

Indy), the Belmont S. (G1) fourth-placer who's switching to the lawn for the first time

in search of better form; the ubiquitous Pletcher's RECTORY HILL (Sky Classic),

coming off a solid allowance win over this course; and the well-bred MINISTER'S

JOY (Deputy Minister), most recently third in an off-the-turf allowance behind

likely Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf H. (G1) contender Einstein (Brz)

(Spend a Buck).