Mr. Prospector

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector H. (G3) features a field of eight

sprinters going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park, and we'll give the edge to

WEIGELIA (Safely's Mark), who enters off a sharp victory in the sloppy Kenny Noe

Jr. H. (G3) at Calder. The six-year-old earned a 105 BRIS Speed rating for the 4

1/4-length score, and his recent form is very encouraging. With wins last year

in Delaware, New York and Florida, Weigelia takes his track with him, and he's

very proficient at six furlongs (six wins). He's going well presently and rates

top honors.

MACH RIDE (Pentelicus) is two for two at Gulfstream, breaking his maiden and

winning an allowance last year, and he turned in two big efforts at

Calder this summer when capturing the Valid Video S. and finishing second in the

Carry Back S. (G2). Unraced since an eighth over the Polytrack in the

Perryville S. (G3) at Keeneland, the Steve Standridge trainee

shows a bullet work in preparation for his return, and his affinity for the

track and distance (4-3-1-0) are very appealing. Mach Ride also owns

triple-digit Speed ratings.

SLAM BAMMY (Grand Slam) will likely show speed from the start for Joe Orseno

and could last a long way. Winner of a pair of six-furlongs stakes at the

Meadowlands in his last two appearances, the six-year-old gelding tuned up for

the Mr. Prospector with a sharp three-furlong move and he's won his last two

starts off a freshening. He's got a chance to lead wire to wire.

Multiple Grade 3 winner KELLY'S LANDING (Patton) has the back class to be a

factor and definitely deserves consideration for the exotics. We didn't like

that he failed to earn a triple-digit Speed rating in his last three starts in

2006, but he won a race last year at Gulfstream off the shelf and could be ready

to go for conditioner Eddie Kenneally here.

HITHER LANE (Mr. Greeley) returns off a brief freshening for the always

dangerous Christophe Clement, and the gray four-year-old colt displayed decent

talent last year when recording an allowance and allowance/optional claiming

win. We're inclined to give him a race at the graded level, but we wouldn't be

surprised to see a solid showing from the promising colt. PARADISE DANCER (Langfuhr)

likes a wet track and is doing well presently, with a 3-1-0 mark in his last

five starts, but he didn't run well at Gulfstream last winter and might prefer a

little more ground.

HIGH FINANCE (Talk is Money) couldn't break his maiden in three attempts at

Gulfstream last winter, and the six-furlong distance doesn't look like a good

fit for the four-year-old. BLAZING PURRSUIT (Tale of the Cat) hasn't hit the

board in his last five starts and probably needs an easier spot to be

competitive.