Razorback BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday's $150,000 Razorback Breeders' Cup H. (G3) features a field of nine,

and Grade 2 winner MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) is the likely favorite. The

Todd Pletcher trainee is a major threat with his best, but he'll need to bounce

back from a dreadful showing in the Donn H. (G1), and he'll be making his first start at Oaklawn Park. We'll side with a horse-for-the-course who is in the best form of

his career.

JONESBORO (Sefapiano) exits a smashing 5 3/4-length score in the Essex H.

(G3), earning a career-best 106 BRIS Speed rating while notching his first

graded score, and he's a three-time winner in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Randy

Morse charge owns a 2-1-0 mark in his last three outings, and Jonesboro has

worked well twice since the February 10 Essex, including a five-furlong drill in

1:01 1/5 last Saturday that was the second-fastest of 44 moves at the distance.

The five-year-old is at the top of his game at present, and he'll show speed from

the start under Calvin Borel.

Magna Graduate is eligible to rebound with a much improved showing after

finishing a troubled last in the Donn, but we're not convinced that he's the

same horse that he once was. The five-year-old suffered an injury following last

year's Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), and his only decent effort in three starts

since then came against a soft group at Aqueduct when he was the lone speed.

Pletcher will remove the blinkers on Friday, and Magna Graduate does own

good tactical speed. He'll likely be tracking Jonesboro during the initial

stages under John Velazquez, who will travel from Florida for the mount.

KID GRINDSTONE (Grindstone) has run well at Oaklawn, winning last year's

Fifth Season S. (G3) during the Festival of the South, and he's three-for-five

at the 1 1/16-mile distance. Trained by Michael Campbell, the five-year-old raced closer to

the pace when capturing the Tenacious H. last out at Fair Grounds in early

December, but he'll likely revert to rating tactics here. The gray owns

excellent BRIS Late Pace ratings, and he's well drawn on the rail. We'll use him

in the top three.

RED RAYMOND (Deputy Commander) offered a good move on the far turn and wound

up finishing a clear second in the Essex. The chestnut ran well last year for

Bob Holthus when placing in the Rebel S. (G3) and Southwest S. at Oaklawn, and

his present form appears to be on the improve. Red Raymond has never posted a

triple-digit Speed rating, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him break through

here with a good showing. STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude) did not run well when

finishing fifth against allowance rivals last time, but the Grade 1-placed colt

probably needed that race off a lengthy layoff. We don't like the fact that he

hasn't won in more than 13 months, but Steppenwolfer showed enough class last

year for us to respect his chances here. Consider for part.

STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo) earned his first stakes win when rolling to a 3

1/4-length tally in the Maxxam Gold Cup H. at Sam Houston last time, but the

Neil Howard pupil faces a much deeper field here. We won't dismiss his chances

for a minor award, but we'll take a stand against the confirmed closer. MR.

PURSUIT (General Royal) was no match for Student Council two starts back in the

Maxxam and offered no rally in the Essex. He's not doing well enough at present

for us to recommend.

Multiple stakes winner SANDBURR (Sandpit [Brz]) has made good strides at

eight for trainer Michael Stidham after competing mostly in claiming events last

year, but we'll let the veteran gelding beat us. Note that he's cross-entered to

Saturday's New Orleans H. (G2) at Fair Grounds. CHIPPEWA TRAIL (General Royal)

exits a victory over $55,000 claimers, and the D. Wayne Lukas trainee probably

needs an easier spot to be competitive.