Karelian and Court Vision square off again over Keeneland turf

Karelian and Court Vision square off again over Keeneland

turf

Court Vision will offer no value whatsoever, but really shouldn't given his

body of work. The leading three-year-old grass specialist over Gio Ponti in

2008, his was an underachieving campaign through much of 2009 until he reached

Lexington, Kentucky, for the Shadwell, where he was sent away at 9-2 and prevailed by a

nose over boggy conditions in his debut for Rick Dutrow. He showed that

performance at a distance considered shorter than his best was no fluke when a

solid fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). He was controversially awarded the

Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1) via disqualification in his seasonal debut.

Other logical candidates who wintered in Florida are CHEROKEE ARTIST

(Cherokee Run), a strong second to Courageous Cat (Storm Cat) in a swiftly-run

Canadian Turf S. (G3); WESLEY (El Prado [Ire]), whose last attempt at the

distance resulted in a win in the Miami Mile (G3); and SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN (Not

Impossible), who pulled off the minor upset of the Appleton S. (G3) on Florida

Derby Day.

Not to be overlooked is the Roger Attfield-trained PASSAGER (Fr) (Anabaa),

who was a half-length second to Mr. Sidney in this race a year ago. He was

unplaced in his next two starts, however, and has been out of action since

trailing the Firecracker H. (G2) in July. PICTURAL (El Prado [Ire]) and ROGUE

VICTORY (Victory Gallop), who raced for claiming prices of $50,000 and $32,000,

respectively, in their most recent outings, complete the field.