Shackleford, To Honor and Serve meet in Kelso

Grade 2 winner Tapizar enters the Kelso in peak form, most recently beating

an overmatched group in the West Virginia Governor's at Mountaineer Park by 4

1/2 lengths. The speedy colt, trained by Steve Asmussen, was returning from a

five-month layoff in that August 4 feature and set a fast pace en route to a

near coast-to-coast triumph.

Others of note in the Kelso are Pacific Ocean and Golddigger's Boy, one-two

in the Grade 3 James Marvin at Saratoga; 2010 Cigar Mile winner Jersey Town, who

ran third in the Grade 1 Forego last time; and multiple stakes winner

Trickmeister, who shortens up after three straight losses at nine furlongs.

The Grade 1, $400,000

Vosburgh

at six furlongs lacks the star power of other Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint preps

that will occur over the next two weekends.

Poseidon's Warrior, who upset the Vanderbilt at 36-1 in a three-way photo,

will try and prove that win was no fluke when he breaks from the rail under Irad

Ortiz Jr. Following him in the starting gate will be Vanderbilt runner-up Justin

Phillip and 2010 Vanderbilt winner Sean Avery, who recently returned from a

13-month layoff to win a minor stakes over the Vosburgh course and distance.

Dual Grade 2 winner Caixa Eletronica will need a sensationally fast pace,

like the one he saw in the Grade 2 True North Handicap on June 9, to wear down

his front-running rivals. Grade 2 Jerome winner The Lumber Guy takes a big jump

up in class off a 4 1/2-month layoff, while Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 King's

Bishop runner-up Fort Loudon does not look out of place stepping up to face

older rivals. Rothko has caught two off track since his victory in the Grade 3

Aristides at Churchill Downs in early June.

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