Skip Away

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) is taking a big class drop in Saturday's $150,000 Skip

Away H. (G3), and we expect him to earn his first stakes win. Last time out, the

Todd Pletcher-trained horse finished a close third to Corinthian (Pulpit) in the

Gulfstream Park H. (G2). Two back, he was third to Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg)

(Candy Stripes) in the Donn H. (G1), and he filled the same position three

starts ago behind Premium Tap (Pleasant Tap) in the Clark H. (G1). A. P. Arrow

earned BRIS Speed ratings of 104, 104 and 103, respectively, for those

efforts, and those numbers are extremely strong here. He also earned a 117 BRIS

Late Pace rating last time. The stalker has the tactical speed to sit close to a

slow pace before pouncing, and he easily rates top billing.

POLITICAL FORCE (Unbridled's Song) hasn't tested stakes company since

finishing second in the 2005 Nashua S. (G3), but he enters the Skip Away on the

upswing for Allen Jerkens, winning back-to-back allowances this meet. Both came

at the one-turn mile distance and the gray four-year-old has only been two turns

once in his career, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Political Force handle

nine furlongs in this spot. He owns some early speed, and his Speed and Late

Pace numbers are promising.

TOUCHED BY MADNESS (Sword Dance [Ire]) exits a high-priced claiming score for

Ed Plesa Jr. and has captured his last two starts on the main track. The

five-year-old gelding notched a 103 Speed rating last time, and he's favorably

drawn in an inside post on Saturday. At 12-1 on the morning line, Touched By Madness

will offer us the opportunity for some value in the exotics.

DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) exits an 8 3/4-length score over

allowance/optional claiming rivals at this distance, and the late runner has run

well in his last two stakes attempts, finishing a close fourth in the Sunshine

Millions Classic and third in the Fred Hooper H. (G3). We can't envision him

getting much pace up front here, but Dry Martini remains a candidate for a top

three finish.

GOTTCHA GOLD (Coronado's Quest) will show speed from the start and probably

won't face much pressure. He's got some class concerns in this spot, but the

four-year-old deserves some consideration for a minor award. WELCOME AGAIN

(Awesome Again) drew an outside post (8) and exits a dull sixth in the Mineshaft

H. (G3) at Fair Grounds. The Bobby Frankel charge did capture a Gulfstream

allowance two starts back, but we'll just watch to see if he can rebound.

REHOBOTH (Wagon Limit) must overcome the far outside post and hasn't been much of

a factor in his last two efforts. The one-run closer may have the same problems

here. TAP DANCING MAUK (Louis Quatorze) is unplaced in two starts at Gulfstream

and exits a dull showing in the Donn. We'll let him beat us. PALLADIO (Lycius)

is the only graded winner in the field, but the 2005 Ohio Derby (G2) hero has

raced sparingly over the last 18 months and doesn't look sharp enough to

contend.