Meadowlands J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Friday night's $500,000 Meadowlands Cup H. (G2) features a contentious field

of seven. DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook) is one-for-one over the New Jersey track by

virtue of his sharp 1 1/2-length score in the 2006 Pegasus S. (G3), and we'll

give him the slight edge in this spot.

Trained by Richard Dutrow, the four-year-old gray gelding won his first four

career starts before finishing third, beaten only a half-length, in the Stephen

Foster H. (G1). He followed that effort with a pair of respectable thirds in the

Whitney H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1), and Diamond Stripes appears to be training

forwardly for this appearance. The Florida-bred owns excellent BRIS Speed and

Late Pace ratings, and stablemate MR. UMPHREY (Jules) will set the table as a

"rabbit."

UTOPIA (Jpn) (Forty Niner) is an intriguing prospect. The Godolphin

colorbearer made his U.S. debut in the May 2 Westchester H. (G3) and rallied

gamely to a one-length decision over solid competition, but the seven-year-old

hasn't been seen under silks since. He's training well for Saeed bin Suroor,

recording a five-furlong bullet last week at Belmont, and the multiple Japanese Grade 1

winner merits respect for it all if ready to go. Utopia will show speed under

Mike Luzzi.

XCHANGER (Exchange Rate), the lone three-year-old in the line-up, just missed

when second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) last out, and we respect the Mark

Shuman-trained multiple Grade 3 winner. The gray registered career-best 106 Speed and 103

Late Pace figures last time, and Xchanger is versatile enough to lead or rate.

It will be the latter here, and we'll tab the improving colt for a minor award.

MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) owns the most back class, earning more than

$2.2 million, but the Todd Pletcher pupil exits a pair of dull

showings in the Whitney and Woodward. He's rebounded from poor efforts in the

past, but the five-year-old horse could be vulnerable here at short odds. He

still merits serious consideration for the top three.

AWFULLY SMART (Anees) is in good form, winning four of his last five starts,

all at Delaware Park, but those wins came in front-running fashion. He probably won't

get the early lead here, and we'll let him beat us.

PRAYING FOR CASH (Songandaprayer) exits a dull effort sprinting and would

probably prefer a little less ground. Mr. Umphrey exits a nice effort sprinting

at Saratoga, but he's entered for only one reason here -- to go as fast as he

can before retreating.