Palm Beach J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A well-matched group of 11 sophomore turf runners will go 1 1/8 miles on the

lawn in the $150,000 Palm Beach S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The

Christophe Clement-conditioned SPORTING ART (Doneraile Court) looked good late

in his U.S. debut and seems poised for a huge effort in this test. The bay colt

displayed excellent ability when running short in Great Britain as a youngster,

and was highly thought of when commanding $480,826 as a horse in

training at Tattersalls in the fall. The colt showed a sharp late run to just

miss in an allowance prep for this event, and his trainer scores at a 23 percent

rate in graded events. Javier Castellano has the call.

CELESTIAL COMET (Smart Strike) closed from well back to topple a fine field

in a first-level allowance heat over this turf last out for Bill Mott and rates

a big chance in here. The well-bred chestnut has shown some early speed

in the past and is well positioned on the rail in here, so we see him

enduring a dream trip under Kent Desormeaux. Consider this one a live win

contender in this deep field.

MORAL COMPASS (Grand Slam) exits a strong heat and almost always fires for

Barclay Tagg, so we have to give the dark bay a decent chance at the exotics in

here. The Kentucky-bred has been more relaxed in his two starts at three but

could go back to his pace-pressing style in here with the added ground, and we

feel that if he employs that tactic he could get first run on the deep closers.

Eibar Coa will be in the irons.

TITAN OF INDUSTRY (Giant's Causeway) had the misfortune of running into

Cowboy Cal (Giant's Causeway) in all three of his turf defeats and happily

avoids that one on this day for Richard Violette Jr. The gelded sophomore's

experiment on the main track didn't provide much, but a freshening and some fine

works followed. He's another with a top-three chance under Cornelio

Velasquez.

FLYING DISMOUNT (Proud Citizen) has been brilliant at Tampa Bay Downs in his last pair

and will step up in class when facing this talented bunch. Also conditioned by

Clement, the bay Kentucky-bred could be any type, but his BRIS Speed numbers are

on the low side and we'll look for others to win. Consider the colt a threat in

the exotics, though.

CHEROKEE FOCUS (Cherokee Run) has disappointed in two main-track efforts at

the meet for Graham Motion, but we expect improvement from the dark bay in his

initial turf outing. A half-brother to the multiple stakes-placed grass

performer Dean's List (Holy Bull), the colt recently posted a bullet on the lawn

at Palm Meadows

and could have a useful career on the green. He picked a tough field for his

two-turn and grass debut, but he could pick up a piece of the pie with a good

trip.

Multiple stakes star WISE ANSWER (Wised Up) showed little in his turf bow, a

seventh-place finish in the Tropical Park Derby (G3), but could improve in here

for David Brownlee. The bay Florida-bred has lost three straight following three

consecutive scores, and although we feel that he might have been mismanaged, we

could envision him closing out the tri or super with his best. 

RUN SULLY RUN (Cherokee Run) defeated our top pick last out with a strong

late kick and will make his second career turf outing in here for Cam Gambolati.

The Kentucky-bred colt has always had ability and he wouldn't be a total

surprise to finish in the top half of this bunch, but the poor post (11) and added

ground turn us off on this occasion. Joe Bravo will retain the mount. The maiden DYNAMALT (Dynaformer) is essentially a one-run closer in a race

without an abundance of early speed signed on, so it's hard for us to tab the

expensive yearling at this stage of his career. We were visually impressed with

the dark bay's late run last out but he's facing much better in here. It's hard

to leave a Mott-trained turf runner off of one's ticket, but we must do so at

this time.

VICTORY CAFE (Victory Gallop) showed little in the Hallandale Beach S. in his

last start and appears to be in deep in this field. PRIME REALESTATE (Prime

Timber) was game in a maiden claiming win last out but looks to be a cut below

in here. We respect the high-percentage connections but can't endorse the

chestnut versus this group.