River City

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The $100,000 River City H. (G3) attracted a solid field of nine for 1 1/8

miles over the Matt Winn turf course at Churchill Downs, and we'll go with

defending champion RAHYSTRADA (Rahy), who scored by 2 1/4 lengths last year.

After racing in a pair of $50,000 claiming races, the gelding was overlooked at

56-1 in the 2009 River City, but he'll be a much shorter price this time around.

Listed as the 2-1 second choice on the morning line Thursday, Rahystrada has

kept good company in his last three starts, all graded stakes. He recorded a

close third in the May 15 Dixie S. (G2), garnering 105 BRIS Speed and 117 Late

Pace ratings, and proceeded to capture the July 17 Arlington H. (G3). That

earned him a shot in the Arlington Million (G1) and the chestnut was in position

to fire at the top of the stretch before weakening slightly to fourth, beaten

only three lengths for it all. The six-year-old owns good tactical speed and

fires fresh for trainer Byron "Scooter" Hughes, and we think he'll run big here in his

return to Churchill Downs.

EXPANSION (Maria's Mon) faltered when shipping north for the Northern Dancer

Turf S.

(Can-G1) last time, but he'll drop into a much easier spot and merits serious

respect for Steve Asmussen. The five-year-old horse has never finished out of

the money in four attempts at this distance and missed by only three-quarters of

a lengths to dual champion Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) when finishing a close

third in the Man o' War S. (G1) three starts back. We'll look for a good showing

from off the pace.

BOOTS AHEAD (Storm Boot) will enter this event on the upswing for George

Weaver, following a third in the Red Bank S. (G3) with a sharp allowance score

at Keeneland, and we'll use him in our top three at a price (12-1 morning line).

The four-year-old shows a nice half-mile work in advance of this start and

figures to be forwardly-placed under Garrett Gomez.

BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) was a multiple Grade 2 winner

on the turf last year but will bring a 10-race losing skein into this event.

Fourth in the Pacific Classic (G1) last time, the four-year-old hasn't run

poorly in most of his setbacks, but he hasn't finished fast either. He typically

puts himself in position to challenge before coming up short, and we could

easily envision him grabbing another minor award here.

MIDNIGHT MISCHIEF (Medaglia d'Oro) steps up for Bill Mott off an encouraging

allowance/optional-claiming score at Belmont Park and owns commendable BRIS Late

Pace numbers. We're not sure how he'll fit at this level, and the distance could

even be a little short for the long-distance specialist. SCHRAMSBERG (Storm Cat)

will bring a two-race winning streak into this event for Chris Hartmann, but he

faces a class check here and didn't run well in his previous attempt over

Churchill's turf. The latter came a long time ago, so we won't count it against

him, but nine furlongs may not be his best distance.

READY SET (Touch Gold) has only one win over the last two seasons and exits a

disappointing showing behind Schramsberg. We can't recommend his chances. WISE

RIVER (Belong to Me) has some back class but appears to have gone off form in

his recent starts. ALLIE'S EVENT (Wild Event) probably needs an easier spot.