National Jockey Club J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Saturday's $250,000 National Jockey Club H. (G3) drew only four horses, and

it's essentially a two-horse race between MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy) and

SWEETNORTHERNSAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint). Both own good tactical speed, and

they'll likely be next to each other from the start.

Master Command appears a bit sharper, recording excellent wins in the New

Orleans H. (G2) and Mineshaft H. (G3) in his first two starts this year. Trained

by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old registered a 109 BRIS Speed rating for his

Mineshaft score, and John Velazquez will be at Hawthorne for the ride. Master

Command relishes the 1 1/8-mile distance (five-for-nine overall) and appears to be

training forwardly for this appearance. We'll give him the edge.

Sweetnorthernsaint didn't get off to a good start this year, finishing third

in the Hal's Hope H. (G3) before retreating to fifth in the Sunshine Millions

Classic S., but he turned his form around at Laurel Park last out, winning the

Harrison E. Johnson Memorial H. by daylight. The four-year-old gelding didn't

beat much in that spot, but it was confidence builder for his return to Chicago.

Sweetnorthernsaint's biggest career win came here in last year's Illinois Derby (G2),

which he captured by 9 1/4 lengths, and he's a very dangerous adversary for

Master Command on Saturday.

LE JESTER (Pyramid Peak) captured a $25,000 claiming race three starts back,

and he's improved in his two most recent outings, earning big Speed ratings for

victories over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Hawthorne. The

seven-year-old gelding could easily grab third.

COURTHOUSE (Doneraile Court) doesn't appear to have a chance for the win,

turning in dull efforts at six furlongs in his last two outings versus

allowance/optional claiming rivals. The six-year-old gelding probably isn't fast

enough to get third.