Prairie Meadows Cornhusker BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight contestants will go forward in Saturday's Prairie Meadows Cornhusker

Breeders' Cup H. (G2). LORD OF THE GAME (Saint Ballado) has only lost one start

in seven attempts -- a third-place finish in the National Jockey Club H. (G3) two back

after an awkward start. The Thomas Tomillo-conditioned four-year-old has earned

triple-digit BRIS Speed figures in his last five attempts, most recently for a

victory in the Hanshin Cup H. (G3). The dark bay has shown that he can run

wire-to-wire or from off the pace. Given Prairie Meadow's front-running

speed bias, Lord of the Game's early speed could benefit him here. Eusebio Razo

has the call.

CRYPTOGRAPH (Cryptoclearance) enters off a nose loss in the Lone Star

Park H. (G3) in his four-year-old debut. The bay colt has earned century-topping

Speed figures in two of his last three outings for trainer Donnie Von Hemel,

including a career-high 103 when finishing a close second in the Lone Star Derby

(G3) last

year. In his one start over the Altoona, Iowa, track, he finished third in the

Iowa Derby in July of last year. Regular rider Donald Pettinger has

the call.

MUSIQUE TOUJOURS (Musique D'enfer) exits off a disappointing run in the New

Orleans H. (G2) in March and was never really in contention for that one. That

performance can pretty much be written off, however, as he won the Sunshine

Millions Classic in his first start this year. The layoff from his last run

could prove beneficial, as he has worked forwardly for trainer John Sadler in

the mornings since that race. Julio Garcia will ride.

SCOOTER RAINS (Prospect Bay) is one of the more acclimated colts to this

track. In eight starts, the bay four-year-old has four wins and two placings.

Trainer Lynn Chleborad saddled Scooter Rains to a victory last out in the

Cyclones H. over this same track. Despite having never raced over the Cornhusker

distance, Scooter Rains shouldn't have a problem with the added distance.

SKIPASLEW (Skip Away) is another who didn't show his full potential in his

last outing, running sixth in the Berkley H. (G3). The four-year-old colt showed

flashes of brilliance in the Santana Mile H. and Alysheba S. earlier this year,

coming in first and second and earning speed figures of 102 and 103,

respectively. The chestnut colt could post a top-three finish in this one.

HABANEROS (Tabasco Cat) has yet to win in four starts this season. Trainer

Thomas Bell has tried the gelding over the turf and dirt and Habaneros has found minor success

on both surfaces. He could hit the gimmicks. MAMBO TRAIN (Kingmambo) hasn't had

his picture taken in the winner's circle since February of last year. We will

bet against.

TRICKY MOCHA (Tricky Creek) is the most experienced at Prairie Meadows, having

completed 15 trips around the track. The nine-year-old gelding could probably

face some class problems here. His stablemate, SILVER AXE (Silver Ghost), has

performed well in minor stakes and claiming levels, but the class hike could

pose some problems.