Queens County J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Saturday's $100,000 Queens County H. (G3) is the last graded race of 2009 in

New York, and the 1 3/16-mile event will be the second start of the season for

STORM PLAY (Smart Strike), who left a grand impression last year when winning

his first three outings in convincing fashion. We'll tab the four-year-old for

top honors.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Storm Play recorded back-to-back 106 BRIS Speed

ratings prior to his graded debut in the 2008 Cigar Mile H. (G1), where he

chased the pace and weakened to sixth, beaten 4 3/4 lengths. It was a

respectable effort to build upon for the lightly-raced colt, but he wasn't seen

again under silks for 10 months, returning in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance/optional

claiming event against juvenile champion Midshipman (Unbridled's Song). Storm

Play never got untracked at a distance that was too short for him that

afternoon, but he gained valuable fitness for Saturday's stretch-out. Jose

Lezcano will pick up the mount on the bay, who will be on or very close to the

lead from the start.

2008 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) hero HONOUR DEVIL (Arg) (Honour and Glory) has

been well-supported in his three U.S. starts, including a sharp 1 1/2-length,

wire-to-wire score over allowance/optional claiming rivals, and he's got a fine

chance to carry his form forward here. Go-to jockey Alan Garcia will pick up the

mount for Arthur Magnuson, who is subbing for the suspended Kiaran McLaughlin,

and the five-year-old should be in position to offer a serious challenge turning

for home.

RESEARCHER (Two Smart) will look to win his second consecutive running of

this event, but the West Virginia shipper looks vulnerable to us at short odds

(5-2 favorite on the morning line). He entered last year's Queens County off a

victory in the Mountaineer Mile in which he earned a 112 BRIS Speed rating, but

he netted only a 100 Speed rating for his runner-up finish in the same race last

time out. The Jeff Runco trainee would move up on a wet track (7-4-1-0), but

we'll include him only on the bottom of our exotics.

MORE THAN REASON (More Than Ready) will be tested by the distance, but the

stalker still looms as an exotics player. The four-year-old is doing well

presently for Randi Persaud, winning or placing in his last eight starts, and

the claimer brings excellent BRIS Late Pace numbers into the race. He could

offer some value to the gimmicks at 12-1 on the morning line. STUD MUFFIN

(Raffie's Majesty) owns some decent BRIS Speed and Late Pace numbers, but he's

winless in eight previous starts over the inner track. Freshened off three

straight unplaced finishes, the gray is eligible to outperform our expectations

with a minor award, but we'll have to let him beat us.

RODMAN (Malibu Moon) romped by 7 3/4 lengths in a one-turn allowance test

over the main track last out, but we can't envision him getting the 1 3/16-mile

trip. LORD KIPLING (Kipling) could be a pace presence, but he doesn't figure to

last in this spot. NAUGHTY NEW YORKER (Quiet American) doesn't look fast enough

to challenge.