Monmouth Cup

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $300,000 Monmouth Cup S. (G2) attracted a short but stout field of

six, including defending champion ETCHED (Forestry), who captured this race when

it was known as the Meadowlands Cup last year. Multiple Grade 2 winner MUSKET

MAN (Yonaguska) exits an excellent third in the Whitney H. (G1) at Saratoga, and

we'll pick the four-year-old on top.

Conditioned by Derek Ryan, Musket Man placed in both the Kentucky Derby (G1)

and Preakness (G1) before heading to the sidelines for the rest of 2009. He

returned with a nice win at Tampa Bay Downs this winter and stepped up to face

graded rivals in his next four starts, finishing second by a nose in the Carter

H. (G1) prior to a third in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) and a second in the Met

Mile (G1). He received a whopping 111 BRIS Speed rating for the latter and then

stepped up to face an outstanding field in the Whitney.

The dark bay colt traveled wide on both turns in the Whitney, which wasn't

the best part of the track that afternoon at Saratoga, but was still in the

thick of things at the top of the stretch. He fought hard all the way to the

wire, finishing only two lengths back of Blame (Arch), but missed a little

training time afterward. He returned to the worktab on Sunday at Monmouth Park,

registering a five-furlong bullet, and we expect him to be ready for his best in

this spot. Eibar Coa opts for the classy colt over DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme

Hall).

An excellent 2 1/4-length scorer in the Philip H. Iselin S. (G3) last out, Duke

of Mischief is our second choice. He was flattered when the Iselin runner-up,

Redding Colliery (Mineshaft), came right back to win the Hawthorne Gold Cup

(G2), and his recent BRIS Speed and Late Pace numbers are strong. The Oaklawn H.

(G2) hero will pick up the services of top local jock Paco Lopez, and Duke of

Mischief should be in position to offer a challenge turning for home.

After missing the first 8 1/2 months in 2010, Etched returned to the races

with a nice one-length score in the September 12 Formal Gold S. over the local

track. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee owns a winning attitude, capturing

six-of-eight career starts, but he's battled injuries throughout his career and

will face a serious class check in this spot. We'll still look for a good

effort, but we can't recommend his chances for the win.

Florida Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up ICE BOX (Pulpit)

is better than he's shown in his last three starts, but it's difficult to get

excited about his chances here off those dull performances. The Nick Zito runner

does appear to be training forwardly in preparation, posting a four-furlong

bullet drill at Saratoga on Monday, and we won't be shocked to see him offer a

decent late run for a minor award.

CHIRAC (Sligo Bay [Ire]) probably needed his last race off the year layoff

and will move up if the track is wet. He's probably a little better at a mile or

8 1/2 furlongs, but we can't dismiss his strong winning effort in the 2009

Iselin over a sloppy track. The Jane Cibelli pupil will be forwardly-placed with

Elvis Trujillo and is eligible to hold for a small share. DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin

Fizz) owns some back class, but he doesn't look sharp enough to challenge here.