Pennsylvania Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A full field of 14 will chase the hefty purse in the $1 million Pennsylvania

Derby (G2) at Philadelphia Park on Monday, and we feel obliged to find a price

in here. The well-bred NUMAANY (A.P. Indy) impressed with his recent allowance

win at Saratoga and seems poised for a career showing, so we'll side with the

Godolphin runner. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the colt put forth arguably his

best race when third in the Al Bastakiya S. at Nad al Sheba versus older runners

and returned well after a poor grass showing. The Kentucky-bred is well

positioned in the three post and should be within range for the duration of the

nine furlongs.

The classy SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz) has been expertly handled by Bennie

Stutts Jr. during his career and is well rested following a comprehensive tally in

the Ohio Derby (G2) in late May. The Florida-bred colt, who was an excellent

second in the Florida Derby (G1) earlier in this campaign, has failed to hit the

board just once in his career, with that one coming in the Kentucky Derby (G1). A strong

worktab and the presence of jockey Manoel Cruz add to the intrigue of the top

win candidate.

The performance of ATONED (Repent) in the Haskell Invitational (G1) was a throwout, as the

consistent colt was equipped with, and obviously didn't take to, blinkers. The

dark bay can run all day and he always seems to be in the mix, even though he's

settled for second on seven occasions in his career. The Todd Pletcher trainee

should improve dramatically and challenge for a placing under Jose Lezcano.

TIZ NOW TIZ THEN (Tiznow) made a big move turning for home in the Jim Dandy

S. (G2) last out before tiring to third, but the improving dark bay fits well

with this group and is another win threat in this deep field. Conditioned by the

red-hot Eoin Harty, the dark bay clearly prefers dirt to synthetic and is proven

at this trip. Miguel Mena will pilot the Kentucky-bred.

YOU AND I FOREVER (A.P. Indy) finished a game second to Travers S.

(G1) runner-up Mambo in Seattle (Kingmambo) most recently and has steadily improved for Bill

Mott. The Kentucky-bred is out of multiple Grade 1 vixen You (You and I), and has trained in

good fashion preparing for this, so we consider the bay another contender in

this group, even with the widest post.

Dual Grade 3 hero TWO STEP SALSA (Petionville) is among the top sophomores on

the West Coast and will make his dirt debut in here for Julio Canani. The

talented Kentucky-bred has never been worse than second while facing top

competition throughout 2008, and the only question that lingers over the dark

bay is his ability to handle dirt. A fair price should be available on the colt,

who would be no surprise in here.

POWER GAME (Dixie Union) has romped to two consecutive wins to start his

career for Shug McGaughey, and the intriguing prospect just blitzed a bullet

half-mile in advance of this. The well-bred sort is a half-brother to Grade 3

hero Survivalist (Danzig), suggesting his stamina will not be in question, and

the ease with which he has won thus far makes him a wildcard at a potentially big

price. Elvis Trujillo has the call. READY SET (Touch Gold) upset the West

Virginia Derby (G3) last out and is on a nice roll for conditioner Michael Matz.

Since dropping the blinkers four races back, the well-bred colt has won two,

with a neck second and a half-length third, posting BRIS Speed figures of

95 or more in each.

We've always had an eye on ALAAZO (A.P. Indy), but the well-bred Bill Mott

trainee has not lived up to expectations to date. The dark bay offered a solid

middle move in the Haskell before tiring to fourth over the Monmouth

oval, and this surface may be more conducive to his late-running style. It's

hard to back the dark bay to win, but we'll use him in many exotic wagers. The

surging STONES RIVER (Monarchos) has taken well to the Delaware surface for

trainer Larry Jones, romping in four straight by a combined 22 1/2 lengths. The

gray has useful Speed numbers and is well drawn on the rail, but he'll need

a perfect trip and improvement to win this.

ONLY FOR NOW (Tiznow) has rolled to three straight wins for Tim Ritchey and

is probably the now horse in the field. The late-blooming bay has earned 102 and

100 Speed figures in his last pair and should be awfully tough with even

minor improvement in his stakes debut. ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop) was a distant

fifth in the Jim Dandy S. for Nick Zito and he hasn't won in a long time, so

he's best used underneath on this day.

WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat) has exploded to a pair of romps after being

stretched out to two turns for Gary Contessa, compiling wins at a combined 23

1/2 lengths. The New York-bred has been defeating next to nothing, but it's

still hard to omit such an improved performer. ACAI (Three Wonders) has improved

a great deal since transferring to the Richard Dutrow barn, winning two straight

and posting a 100 Speed number last out. The Florida-bred is going the

right way, but the 12 post won't do him any favors.