Notacatbutallama tops Duluth; Percussion in Slew o' Gold

Notacatbutallama has done well for himself this season, racking up a 3-1-2

mark from eight starts that includes wins in the Grade 3 National Museum of

Racing Hall of Fame and Grade 3 Hill Prince as well as a rallying fourth in the

Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap. On Sunday, the Todd Pletcher trainee will face eight

other sophomores in the $100,000

Duluth

at 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct's turf.

Notacatbutallama will be seeking a return to the winner's circle in the race,

having last been seen in that spot following the Hall of Fame on August 9, which

was moved from the turf to the sloppy, sealed dirt track. The

Harlan's Holiday three-year-old proceeded to run second in the Grade 3 Saranac,

fourth in the Jamaica and was recently a fast-closing third in the state-bred

Mohawk on October 19.

Javier Castellano, aboard for the Jamaica, will take the reins in place of

Notacatbutallama's sidelined regular rider John Velazquez.

Also entered in the Duluth is Joha, who never capitalized on his triumph in

the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity last year. This season has seen the Tom

Albertrani charge do a bit better, as he ran third in the Saranac and placed in

a pair of New York stakes prior to a fifth in the Jamaica.

The dark bay son of Johar earned a confidence-building win in the Basket

Weave last out on October 24 at Belmont Park, and keeps the jockey from that

race, Rajiv Maragh, in the irons for this outing.

Percussion enters off a fourth in the October 14 I'm a Banker, but earlier

this season captured the Albert the Great and placed in the Grade 2 Brooklyn

Handicap. Castellano guided the five-year-old gelded son of Bluegrass Cat to a

nice third in the Alydar two back at Saratoga, and once again will be subbing

for Velazquez on the Pletcher trainee.

Quick Casablanca was honored as Chile's Horse of the Year and champion

three-year-old colt in 2011-2012, but has yet to score in four U.S. starts thus

far. That could change on Sunday as the five-year-old bay makes his return from

a two-month vacation in the Slew o' Gold. He was last seen fading to fourth

after being second in the stretch of the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap at 1 1/4

miles, and could enjoy the slight cutback here.

Atigun is seeking his first stakes victory having placed on five other

occasions against black-type rivals. Third in last year's Belmont Stakes and

Breeders' Cup Marathon, the four-year-old son of Istan might enjoy a bit more

ground but hasn't been competitive in his last two. He could need this one in

just his second start for new conditioner James Jerkens.

Grade 1-placed Fast Falcon just missed by a nose to Percussion in the Albert

the Great and went on to be third in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap and Grade 2

Suburban Handicap. He finished last of six in the I'm a Banker most recently and

will be looking to rebound in this spot.