Kent J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

INTERACTIF (Broken Vow) is the top draw in Saturday's $250,000 Kent S. (G3)

at Delaware Park and one of his main rivals, WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip), is the

stuck on the far outside in the nine-horse field. Interactif displayed his turf

prowess when capturing the With Anticipation S. (G3) and Bourbon S. (G3) last

year, concluding his juvenile campaign with a close third in the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile Turf (G2), but he was switched to the main track following a nose

second in the Hallandale Beach S. in his 2010 opener.

The Todd Pletcher-trained colt didn't run poorly over synthetic and dirt

ovals, but Interactif's best surface is turf. He recorded a respectable second

to Paddy O'Prado (El Prado [Ire]) when returning to the sod in the Virginia

Derby (G2) and followed that with his first victory of the season in the National

Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga last time out, gamely

prevailing by a nose. We expect further improvement off that confidence-builder.

THEY CALL ME GIANT (Giant's Causeway) offers us the opportunity for some

value in the exacta. Listed at 8-1 on the morning line, the Kelly Breen pupil

brings improving form into his graded bow, placing in the Choice S. and Jersey

Derby prior to a convincing 2 1/4-length tally over allowance rivals last time,

and his BRIS Speed and Late Pace ratings are encouraging. There appears to be

plenty of pace to set up his late rally, and we give the chestnut a chance for

the upset.

GRAND RAPPORT (Grand Reward) ran a big race at 9-1 odds in the Hall of Fame

last time, missing by a nose in second, and the Gary Contessa runner will bring

Ramon Dominguez along for the ride. With triple-digit Late Pace numbers in his

last two starts, the gelding rates as a legitimate threat in his third start off

the layoff, but we're a little worried about a regression off a career-best

performance. We'll still use the up-and-coming chestnut in the top three.

LENTENOR (Dynaformer) came up short at odds-on against allowance/optional

claiming rivals last time, but the Michael Matz-trained colt was making his

first start off a five-month layoff and is eligible to improve off the

tightener. After breaking his maiden and recording a close second over the turf

at Gulfstream Park, the full brother to the ill-fated Barbaro offered a solid

late rally for fourth in the Florida Derby (G1), equaling a career-best 100 Late

Pace rating, and this race should set up well for him with plenty of speed.

Consider for a minor award.

American Derby (G2) hero Workin for Hops finished third to Paddy O'Prado in

the Secretariat S. (G1) last time and can't be dismissed given his last four

quality efforts versus stakes rivals. However, we don't like his post and the

presence of a couple of speedballs to his inside. We'll let the 3-1

second-choice on the morning line beat us. THUNDER BREW (Milwaukee Brew) is a

bit inconsistent, but the bay colt owns a decent late kick. He's bred to handle

longer distances, but we don't like the fact that he's unplaced in two starts at

nine furlongs.

Stakes winner STORMY LORD (Stormy Atlantic) invades off a good second in the

grassy Breeders' S., the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, but the

confirmed front runner could have trouble sustaining his speed. KARA'S

ORIENTATION (Orientate) exits a couple of runner-up finishes versus stakes

rivals in Canada and could add to the pace, but we can't recommend the former

claimer in this spot. MAJESTICTROUBADOUR (Roman Ruler) doesn't look fast enough

to challenge.