Stars and Stripes

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A compact field of six will travel 1 1/2 miles over the Arlington Park turf

in the $125,000 Stars and Stripes Turf H. (G3) on Monday. Grade 3 winner RUMOR

HAS IT (Awesome Again) drew the rail in here and is the lone horse in the field

with any type of early speed, so we'll tab the eight-year-old for a wire-to-wire

score for David Hinsley. The gelded Kentucky-bred has won his last two,

including the local prep for this, and while he's not as classy as many of

these, his tactical edge should go a long way in determining the outcome on this

day.

BRASS HAT (Prized) has impressed with solid late runs versus considerably

better for Buff Bradley. The Grade 1 victor has found a niche as a turf

marathoner as he's run four solid races in succession at distances similar to

today's. If the top one backs up late, which is obviously possible, the gelded

bay could be the one to capitalize.

Illinois-bred FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) is in excellent form this campaign,

never running worse than fourth in five 2009 appearances. The talented turf

horse has been generally an eight- or nine-furlong competitor for most of his

career and will hope to shine on the stretch out in trip for Chris Block. The

four-year-old chestnut had done well over this strip, and if the distance is not

an obstacle, he's a live threat for a big payday.

The nine-year-old SILVERFOOT (With Approval) was a useful sixth, beaten just

2 1/2 lengths, in the Arlington H. (G3) last out and rates a chance for Dallas

Stewart. The hard-trying gray was a solid winner of this event in 2008 but

sports just a pair of wins in 16 attempts at this distance, and his lack of

early speed might leave him with too much to do late.

CABERNEIGH (E Dubai) hails from the sharp tom Proctor barn but has just three

wins from 21 career starts and would need a good deal of improvement to win

this. On the other hand, the four-year-old could move up considerably with the

added ground, and he's not facing the most talented field ever assembled, so we

won't throw him out under Junior Alvarado.

Marathoner GUADALCANAL (Graeme Hall) has never endured success at this level,

and while he's a horse who's proven to enjoy distances of this nature, we simply

don't think he has the acceleration to win a race like this.