Lone Star Derby J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 10 will line up for Saturday's Lone Star Derby (G3),

which will be decided just one week after the famed Run for the Roses. There is

plenty of speed present in the 1 1/16-mile event, and we like SLEW'S TIZZY

(Tiznow), the front-running winner of the Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland.

Trained by Greg Fox, Slew's Tizzy put it all together with an impressive 3

1/2-length victory in the Lexington. The dark bay colt broke forwardly from

between foes, took the lead on his own while rating kindly entering the

backstretch and was headed by Soaring By (Deputy Minister) along the inside near

the half-mile pole. He dueled and disposed of that one midway around the second

turn, turned for home with a clear lead while waiting for a command, then

responded with interest and drew off under mild encouragement, finishing his

final sixteenth in :6 1/5. Slew's Tizzy, who will be remembered as the horse who

clipped heels and unseated his rider in the Risen Star S. (G3), elected to skip

the Kentucky Derby (G1) and use this race as a possible stepping stone to the

Belmont S. (G1). He should be hard to deny with a similar effort.

Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle three entrants, and FORTY GRAMS (Distorted

Humor), who finished third in the Lexington, could be his strongest contender.

The chestnut colt advanced into a pocket along the rail going into the second

turn, then angled out and split horses turning for home, before finishing evenly

under a vigorous ride by Garrett Gomez. Forty Grams finished third in both the

WinStar Derby and Southwest S. in his two previous starts and has excellent

early speed. He is well drawn near the inside and could make things tough on our

top choice.

REATA'S ROCKET (Cape Canaveral) has run deceptively well in his three starts

this season, and may not have liked Polytrack in his last start when finishing a

diminishing third to Dominican (El Corredor) in the Rushaway S. at Turfway Park.

The chestnut colt broke forwardly to press the pace three wide around the first

turn, advanced three wide around the second turn to challenge for the lead

turning for home, then was no match for the next-out Blue Grass S. (G1) winner

in the drive. In his two previous starts, Reata's Rocket finished a

better-than-appeared fourth in both the Hutcheson S. (G2) and Swale S. (G2) at

Gulfstream Park. He owns a sharp recent work, five furlongs in a bullet :58 4/5

over this surface, and is dangerous at a price.

HARROW LAND (Graeme Hall) is our sleeper for the vertical exotics. The

Tony Reinstedler trainee won his first two starts around two turns at Oaklawn

Park. In his most recent outing, he broke forwardly on the rail, rated behind

the leaders down the backstretch, was held up in a pocket around the second turn

and through the stretch, then got clear late and closed with a burst of speed

before finishing second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Northern Spur

Breeders' Cup S. Harrow Land projects a clear outside trip at attractive odds.

REPORTING FOR DUTY (Deputy Commander), also trained by Asmussen, saved ground

around both turns before outfinishing Bold Start (Jump Start) for runner-up

honors in the Illinois Derby (G2). The chestnut colt is a solid off-the-pace

runner, and this race sets up well for him, but our concern is that he failed to

get the job done as the odds-on favorite against lesser in his previous start at

Fair Grounds. As the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, he could be a

vulnerable underlay.

The Reinstedler-trained MOYER'S POND (Monarchos) has won two of three starts

and was a good-looking winner in his first start around two turns at Oaklawn

Park. The dark bay will face a class check with these but is worth a second look

for the bottom of the exotics. The third of the Asmussen triumvirate, TAKEDOWN

(Point Given), was a grinding winner of the Northern Spur after finishing a

distant fifth in the WinStar Derby. He would have to improve significantly to

factor with these.

SLEW BY SLEW (Slew City Slew) was in the mix early before giving way in upper

stretch and finishing a distant eighth in the Arkansas Derby (G2). He showed

good form in his two prior outings in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and likely will

try to rally from off the pace here. Possible exotics longshot.

MR. NIGHTLINGER (Indian Charlie) and TAKSENT (Mutakddim), a pair of

speedsters making their stakes debut, likely will try to force the early issue

before retreating. Either one would be a surprise.