Kent BC J

Originally scheduled for last weekend, the $500,000 Kent Breeders' Cup S.

(G3) for three-year-olds was moved to Saturday after wet weather hit the

Delaware Valley. The 1 1/8-mile turf affair will be the first start outside of

New York for the unbeaten AFTER MARKET (Storm Cat), who appears likely to extend

his winning streak to five.

After breaking his maiden last November, the Bill Mott-trained colt didn't

return to the races until mid-June, winning an allowance at Belmont Park, and he

proceeded to captured the Lexington S. (G3) in his next start. After Market

raced a bit greenly in the Lexington, but he was much more professional last

time in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga, dueling through slow early fractions before exploding away from his

rivals in the stretch. The dark bay colt will revert to stalking tactics with

the other speed entered in Saturday's field, and we expect him to keep improving

with another impressive win.

BRILLIANT (War Chant) could fare no better than fifth against After Market

last time, but the Neil Howard invader is capable of better. There wasn't any

pace last time and the early fractions should be much faster here. Brilliant

reeled off three straight wins at Churchill this spring, including a nice score

in the Jefferson Cup S. (G2) two starts back, and he still owns plenty of room

for improvement. Brilliant is eligible to rebound with a strong late rally that

nets him runner-up honors.

DIABOLICAL (Artax) is going to face some pressure from the outside, but we

must respect his present form. The speedy colt has won his last three starts,

including the grassy prep for this event last time out, the Nick Shuk Memorial

S., and his BRIS numbers are very credible. Nine furlongs will test his

endurance, but it won't be a surprise to see Diabolical hang around for a long

time.

CARNERA (Old Trieste) earned his first stakes win last time out and finished

a solid second to After Market in the Lexington two back. The dark bay colt will

be stepping up in class in this spot, but he should secure a good stalking

position under Eibar Coa and looks very capable of a top-three placing.

PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) exits a victory in his stakes debut, the Jersey Derby, and he'll attempt to come flying in the stretch here. We're

inclined to give him a start at this level, but he remains a viable candidate

for a minor award at long odds. SPIDER POWER (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) must

overcome the far outside post, but he does own a decent late kick. He turned in

an encouraging effort last time, rallying for second in the Hall

of Fame, and he's another one to consider for part.

KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) will probably be sent for the early lead, but we can't

envision him getting away from his rivals like he did in the Colonial Turf Cup

S. two starts back. He faces a tall task from his outside post. MERCURIUS (Lemon

Drop Kid) has failed to fire in his last two starts against stakes rivals, and

we'll let him surprise us in this spot. YANKEE MASTER (Yankee Victor) looks

vulnerable stretching out in distance. SILENT ROAR (Unbridled's Song) doesn't

appear fast enough to challenge. SEA OF TREES (Belong to Me) is probably facing too much of a class hike.

ROCK LOBSTER (Mt. Livermore) captured the Saranac S. (G3) last Sunday, and he

looks like a probable scratch. SIR CLASSIC CHRIS (Catienus) and ACT OF GOD

(Black Minnaloushe) are both early scratches.