Stuyvesant

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A small but contentious field of six lines up for the $100,000 Stuyvesant H.

(G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. While EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) is

undoubtedly the most accomplished in this group, the seven-year-old warhorse

appears to have

left his best form behind him, and it may be worth trying to beat him

here.

As the old adage says, pace makes the race, and KENNEL UP (Joyeux Danseur)

figures to be the controlling speed under Mike Luzzi. Crafty trainer Allen

Jerkens had entered the four-year-old as a main-track-only participant in last

weekend's Red Smith H. (G2), and with that race remaining on the lawn, has opted

for this spot. Kennel Up is exiting a wire-to-wire victory in an

allowance/optional claimer at Belmont in which he set comfortable fractions and

then drew off in the lane to score by four lengths, earning an impressive 108 BRIS Late Speed rating. A similar pace scenario may well unfold here, and Kennel

Up is the type of front runner who, once emboldened, takes on new courage and

becomes very difficult to run down. With an undemanding first half over a

surface that's been congenial to speed, he gets the nod to hold off the closers.

The Todd Pletcher-trained WEST VIRGINIA (Tomorrows Cat) will try to rebound

from a disappointing fifth-place effort in the Empire Classic H. for New York-breds

behind SPITE THE DEVIL (Devil His Due). But given the sloppy conditions, that

performance is not indicative of his ability. Compare his tremendous finish in

the same race last year, when as a three-year-old facing elders, he just missed

by a head, also to Spite the Devil, after going four wide. On the board in five of

six tries at 1 1/8 miles and victorious in two of three starts at Aqueduct,

West Virginia looms as a prime danger here under rider Norberto Arroyo Jr.

Veteran campaigner AGGADAN (Carnivalay), with Cornelio Velasquez in the

irons, will probably secure an advantageous stalking trip. The Richard Dutrow

Jr. trainee has two wins and two seconds at the distance, and he recently

drilled a bullet five-eighths at Aqueduct. Prior to his last-out second in the

Maryland Million Classic S., he had placed in a nine-furlong Saratoga allowance

after a rough break in which he was bumped and then stumbled. On that day he was

well behind winner Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy), who later captured the Fayette S.

(G3) at Keeneland, but Aggadan still defeated Stuyvesant rival DR. ROCKETT

(Regal Classic) despite the troubled start.

Spite the Devil, stablemate of Kennel Up, enters this race off a successful

defense of his title in the Empire Classic H. The late-running five-year-old

closed furiously to score by a length, garnering a BRIS Speed rating of 107, the

best last-race figure of any horse in the field. While he will try to uncork a

similar finish here, he probably won't get the ferocious early speed necessary

to help his chances, but he deserves respect in the exotics. Channing Hill takes

the reins for Jerkens.

Evening Attire is the personification of back class, claiming triumphs in the

2002 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) and two previous runnings of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup H. (G2). Unfortunately, he has not visited the winner's circle for trainer Pat

Kelly Jr. in nearly 15 months, and his form

has appeared to tail off. Moreover, he has not even threatened the top finishers

since last December's Queens County H. (G3) over the inner dirt at Aqueduct,

when he came in second, three-quarters of a length behind Classic Endeavor

(Silver Buck). While a return to Grade 3 company may augur well for him and it

would be no surprise to see him revert to form, the preference is to wait and

see if any of his old sparkle remains, especially since he will offer little value.

Jose Santos will partner the elder statesman of the group.

Dr. Rockett, interestingly both an entry-mate and half-brother to Evening

Attire, was crushed by Kennel Up in the previously mentioned allowance/optional

claimer at Belmont. The six-year-old has only four wins in 56 lifetime starts

and has not been a factor in his rare stakes appearances. In light

of his swift half-mile work in preparation for this assignment, one suspects his

task is to battle Kennel Up in order to pave the way for Evening Attire, but

Dr. Rockett probably doesn't have enough early foot to put a serious dent into Kennel Up.

Jean Luc Samyn has been named to ride.