Palm Beach J

Saturday's $150,000 Palm Beach S. (G3), a 1 1/8-mile turf affair at

Gulfstream Park, has drawn a short field of seven sophomores, and nearly half

lack prior stakes experience. As the most accomplished member of the group, the

thoroughly reliable SOLDIER'S DANCER (Lost Soldier) deserves to be the 8-5

favorite on the morning line. After romping by 6 3/4 lengths in the Arthur I.

Appleton Juvenile Turf S., he rallied boldly in the Kris S. S. and just missed,

earning a 108 BRIS Late Pace rating for that effort. Stepping up to nine furlongs in the

Tropical Park Derby (G3), he got up in time by three-quarters of a length. The

David Vivian pupil then cut back slightly in trip for the 1 1/16-mile Hallandale

Beach S. at this venue. Soldier's Dancer lagged near the back of the pack early

and had to maneuver through a bulky 12-horse field in the drive, winding up a

one-paced fourth. Against a softer group here, and with extra distance, the gray

gelding looks primed to deliver a winning effort. Cornelio Velasquez will once

again guide the 122-pound highweight, who can close effectively regardless of

the pace scenario.

The Bill Mott-trained BRAINY BENNY (Ire) (Barathea [Ire]) could offer a bit

of value in the exotics at 5-1. The bay is more talented than his past

performances suggest. In a six-race juvenile campaign in England, not once did

he get the opportunity to run on his preferred firm turf. Three times he

encountered soft ground, hitting the board once. Brainy Benny fared better in

his other three starts on the all-weather, breaking his maiden and running

second to the subsequent Group 1-placed Strobilus (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), a

Godolphin colorbearer who holds classic entries. In his American debut, Brainy

Benny caught a yielding course in the Laurel Futurity and checked in a distant

third. At last racing on firm turf in a Fair Grounds allowance last time out, he

was short of room and steadied en route to another third-place finish. With a

clean trip beneath new rider Eddie Castro, Brainy Benny could deliver a serious

challenge.

STORM IN MAY (Tiger Ridge) has been beaten by our top selection every time

they've met, but the gray has performed creditably on each occasion. After

finishing third in the Appleton Juvenile Turf, Kris S. and Tropical Park Derby,

he reinvented himself as a sprinter on the main track. The Bill Kaplan charge

closed from far back to take the Sunshine Millions Dash, then was a rough-trip

sixth in the Hutcheson S. (G2). It may be asking a bit much to throw him back

into a turf route at this point, but Storm in May is a game and genuine sort who

should run his usual race. Manoel Cruz will be in the irons.

BROOKLYN'S SMART (Smart Strike) is the most attractive of the stakes

newcomers, with both of his starts coming at this course and distance. Hailing

from the Todd Pletcher barn, the dark bay overcame a slow start to break his

maiden, and in his first allowance try, finished third to the ultra-impressive

Moudez (Ire) (Xaar). The well bred colt is eligible to improve for that

experience beneath a returning Chris DeCarlo.

Although ONE OF THE BEST (West Acre) was a decent fifth in the Hallandale

Beach, he'll need to move forward to factor here. DUVEEN (Horse Chestnut [SAf])

is exiting a 4 1/4-length maiden tally for Dale Romans. His 101 Late Pace figure

merits respect, but we'd prefer to watch him on the class rise. MASHALA

(Orientate) is winless from five tries and is rather curiously spotted.