Iroquois

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sunday's $100,000 Iroquois S. (G3) looks very contentious and we'll give a

slight edge to ASTROLOGY (A.P. Indy), who will make his graded bow for trainer

Steve Asmussen. A half-brother to a trio of juvenile stakes winners, including Lunarpal, who captured the Bashford Manor S. (G3), Kentucky S. (G3) and Three

Chimneys S. under the Twin Spires in 2004, Astrology will be making his first

start at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

He broke his maiden in good fashion two starts back at Saratoga, winning by

two lengths over To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), and was flattered when that

runner-up came back to destroy maiden special weight rivals by 8 3/4 lengths at

Belmont on October 2. Astrology faltered when stretching out to two turns for

the

September 25 Garden State S. at Monmouth Park, but still managed third. He'll

cut back to a one-turn mile here and figures to improve off his last outing with

Garrett Gomez.

MAYBESOMAYBENOT (Sunday Break [Jpn]) led wire to wire in the Sanford S. (G2)

three back and could be the one to catch in the Iroquois. The Mike Maker trainee

didn't appear to handle Keeneland's Polytrack in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) last time so we'll throw

that effort out. We like the way he's training for this appearance, recording a

recent five-furlong drill in :59 3/5, and his BRIS numbers squarely put him in

the mix for top honors. Maker will also add blinkers, a 23-percent winning move

for the conditioner.

RONIN DUX (Tapit) has never raced on dirt, but the gray colt is bred for it

and looks like a promising runner for trainer Bob Troeger. He scored at first

asking in a one-mile turf affair at Del Mar, sharply drawing clear by a 1

1/4-length margin, and was bet down when finishing fifth in his stakes debut

last time, the September 18 Summer S. (Can-G3). We give him a fine chance to

improve off that experience and won't be surprised to see a strong showing if he

handles dirt.

STORM IN THE LAKE (Stormin Fever) exits a couple of nice performances versus

entry-level allowance rivals at Hoosier Park and broke his maiden at Churchill

Downs on July 4. The Steve Margolis runner should be forwardly placed from his

rail post with Shaun Bridgmohan and can't be dismissed from top-three

consideration. However, his BRIS numbers are a little low.

RIBO BOBO (Louis Quatorze) invades from Florida for trainer Manny Azpurua and

we've seen Calder shippers run well at Churchill in the past. An upset winner of

the Foolish Pleasure S. last out, he'll be cutting back to one turn and will

retain the services of Eddie Nunez. The male two-year-old division in the

Sunshine State looks much weaker than its female counterpart, so we don't know

exactly what to make of the competition he faced last time, and his 87 BRIS

Speed rating in the Foolish Pleasure probably won't get it done here.

HALO'S THUNDER (Thunder Gulch) exits a slow debut score at Turfway Park and

we'll give him a start against winners. CONSERVATIVE VALUE (Value Plus) will

make his dirt debut for Tim Glyshaw and we can't recommend the maiden winner's

chances in this spot. WAR WHOOP (War Front) could find himself overmatched.