Sapling

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight freshman colts will go postward in the $150,000 Sapling S. (G3) at

Monmouth Park on Sunday. LANTANA MOB (Posse), the winner of the prep for this,

the Tyro S., is sure to attract good attention in the pools, as is debut hero Z

HUMOR (Distorted Humor), but we'll look for more value on the win end.

PREACHIN MAN (Songandaprayer) captured the Minstrel S. two back, prior to a

runner-up placing in the Mountaineer Juvenile S., and appears to be good enough

to top this bunch on his best day. The Ronny Werner pupil took his debut in

April and then ran into a dominant field in the Kentucky Breeders' Cup S. (G3)

over sloppy going, but we won't hold that finish against him. Improved since the

addition of blinkers two back, the dark bay is plenty fast but doesn't have to

be on the lead to win, something that should benefit him in here from post 7. Eddie Castro will guide the colt.

Lantana Mob is the most experienced runner in the field with four starts and

possesses a strong late kick which should catapult him to a challenging position

in midstretch. The Steve Asmussen charge ran into a track-record setter in his

debut, and a monster in the Tremont S. two back, but has nothing of the sort to

face in this field. A strong early pace and a well-timed ride by Stewart Elliot

could be enough to get this one back into the winner's circle.

Z Humor was a facile winner in his debut at Saratoga and is sure to attract

much attention in this one for Bill Mott. The Kentucky-bred was well-backed in

his debut and ran to his odds, so there's no question the bay will be tough to

handle with further improvement. We're not keen on the idea of this horse being

potentially odds-on in here, so we'll try to beat him and Joe Bravo.

DAZZLING DEREK (Yankee Gentleman) was a sharp debut winner for Richard Dutrow

at Belmont and has trained well in advance of his first stakes try. The dark bay

toppled a useful group of Empire State-bred runners in his maiden effort and did

so with ease after a tough start, so he could be a big factor in here with a

step forward. Chris DeCarlo has the call.

TIDE DANCER (Out of Place) has yet to run a bad one in two career starts and

could get a share with marked improvement for Mark Shuman, The Maryland-bred

closed well to be second in his debut, and if the pace is hot enough early, this

one could pick up some pieces at a solid price. Abel Castellano Jr. will guide

the colt.

HADDENFIELD (Greenwood Lake) was second in the Parlour S. in his latest but

seems to lack the necessary BRIS Speed numbers to factor much with these. The

same could be said for stablemate EVENINGS END (Evening Kris), who topped Jersey-breds by eight lengths in a slow final time most recently. GINAS WONDER (Three

Wonders) drew the rail, hails from low percentage connections, and appears to be

slower than his rivals.