Kentucky Cup Classic

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

HONEST MAN (Unbridled's Song) will make his synthetic debut in Saturday's

$350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2), but the Larry Jones-trained colt has trained

over the all-weather surface at Fair Hills, recording two sharp recent works in

preparation for this 1 1/8-mile event. The four-year-old will bring improving

form into the race, drawing clear to a 2 3/4-length decision in the Philip H.

Iselin S. (G3) last out, and rates top billing.

Honest Man turned in a couple of smart wins at Fair Grounds last winter and

was favored at 4-5 when making his stakes debut in the Maxxam Gold Cup H. in

late January. He didn't fare well over a "good" track that afternoon, checking

in fifth, but rebounded to capture an allowance/optional claiming event at Fair

Grounds next out. The dark bay then headed to the sidelines, receiving a nearly

three-month rest before returning with a facile allowance/optional claiming

victory at Delaware Park that netted him a 104 BRIS Speed rating. He finished

third when making his graded debut in the Salvator Mile (G3) next out and then

captured the Iselin impressively, registering another 104 Speed rating. Honest

Man owns good tactical speed and should be up close stalking the pace before

offering his run.

STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe) merits serious respect. He's shown an affinity

for the oval, winning the 2005 Kentucky Cup Juvenile (G3) and finishing third in

the 2007 Classic behind Hard Spun and Street Sense, and rolled to a smart 3

3/4-length score in the grassy Arlington H. (G3) when making his 2008 debut two

starts back in July. We're willing to excuse his sixth in the Arlington Million

(G1) last time against top-notch company, and we expect a strong showing at this

level on Saturday.

CANELA (El Corredor), who is cross-entered to Saturday's Hawthorne Gold Cup

(G2), owns class concerns in this spot, but the former claimer

could prove to be the lone speed and looms a threat to hold for a minor award at

a price. He faced too much pressure on the front end last time in the 1 1/2-mile

Turfway Park Fall Championship S. (G3), but the Mike Maker-trained five-year-old

still managed to hold for a respectable fourth at long odds. He owns plenty of

experience at Turfway, making seven of his first nine career starts over the

Polytrack, and we'll use him on the bottom of the exotics.

ZANJERO (Cherokee Run) broke his maiden over Keeneland's Polytrack and

finished third by a neck in last year's Blue Grass S. (G1). The Steve Asmussen

charge has earned $1.4 million in his career, winning the Indiana Derby (G2) and West

Virginia Derby (G3) last season, and will enter this event off a convincing

tally in the West Virginia Governors S. at Mountaineer Park. The four-year-old

colt owns the class to prove best in this spot, and his affinity so far for

Polytrack only adds to his appeal. Zanjero could easily outperform our

expectations, but we fear he might come up a little short off an expected slow

pace.

YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) will attempt to transfer his turf form

to Polytrack, and we've seen Adriano (A.P. Indy) and plenty of other horses do it

in the past. The Dale Romans runner owns a strong closing kick and could finish

up strongly in the stretch, but we'll have to let him beat us. EXTREME SUPREME

(Deputy Minister) has dropped his last four starts this season versus

allowance/optional claiming rivals and didn't run well over the Polytrack at

Keeneland in April. We can't recommend his chances.