Jerome J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Sunday's Jerome H. (G2) drew only five three-year-olds, and it looks like a

two-horse race between GIROLAMO (A.P. Indy) and KENSEI (Mr. Greeley). We'll go

with the former.

Girolamo showed promise when winning his career bow at Saratoga last year,

but he didn't go on in his next two starts, recording unplaced finishes in the

Futurity (G2) and Champagne S. (G1). The Godolphin colorbearer returned to the

races with a vengeance this season, posting a superb four-length allowance score

at Saratoga that netted a 107 BRIS Speed rating, and the Saeed bin Suroor pupil

tuned up for the Jerome with an outstanding 5 1/2-length allowance/optional

claiming win over the track and distance on September 13. We've been highly

impressed and believe that the dark bay colt will carry his form forward here.

Kensei found the 1 /14-mile distance of the Travers S. (G1) too taxing last

time, but you have to respect him on the cutback to eight furlongs on Sunday. He

crushed a solid field in the 1 1/16-mile Dwyer S. (G2) three starts back at

Belmont, winning by 3 1/4 lengths, and then romped by 2 1/4 lengths in the Jim

Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga. The Steve Asmussen-trained colt's BRIS Speed ratings

are a little lower than Girolamo's, but he's been facing stakes company instead

of allowance rivals. Kensei did flop pretty badly last time, so there is concern

whether he'll show up with his best in this spot, but he certainly looks capable

of challenging.

BURLEY'S GOLD (Touch Gold) is an improving colt for Richard Dutrow, but the

last-out allowance winner is spotting serious seasoning to his main rivals in

his stakes debut. We'll tab him for third here and look for better things down

the road from this intriguing prospect.

DENVER (Fusaichi Pegasus) ran two big races at Delaware in May, but the Todd

Pletcher-trainee faltered when stepping up to face stakes rivals in his last two

starts. The cutback to a mile may benefit him, but we can't recommend his

chances. PITCHED PERFECTLY (Pleasantly Perfect) doesn't look fast enough to

challenge for a top three finish.