Stuyvesant J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Saturday's $100,000 Stuyvesant H. (G3) features a well-matched field of eight, and

we're expecting a wet track at the Big A. BRILLIANT SON (Stormin Fever) ran well

when second in an allowance over a sloppy oval in his only appearance at

Aqueduct two years ago,

finishing second to Grade 3 winner Sterwins (Runaway Groom), and he looks like a

strong front-end presence here under Rajiv Maragh.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Brilliant Son will make his third start off a

layoff on Saturday. He's stretching out in distance to nine furlongs, but he gave a solid account

of himself when going two turns last time at Keeneland, finishing third by a

neck in a one-mile turf allowance. His last couple of efforts should have him

fit, and his BRIS Speed and Pace numbers are favorable. The five-year-old can

prove best in his first graded stakes try since his juvenile days.

DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) is winless in two previous attempts on a wet

track, but he's capable in this spot if he handles the footing. Now trained by

Billy Turner, the five-year-old gelding ran big last season when garnering the

Cornhusker H. (G2) and Memorial Day H. (G3), but he's winless in four starts

this year. The gray did make his last two starts on the turf, recording a

respectable second in the Strawberry Burrah S. and a fifth in the Knickerbocker H.

(G3), and those efforts should have him legged up for the Stuyvesant. Dry

Martini, who will add blinkers on Saturday, is a threat to run past all his rivals under Channing Hill.

SOLAR FLARE (Arg) (Salt Lake) merits serious respect, but we're troubled by

his effort over a sloppy track two starts back at Delaware Park. The Larry Jones

trainee exited the well-beaten, third-place effort with an ankle injury and will

enter this race off an encouraging allowance/optional claiming victory at

Meadowlands, but we're still leery of backing him at short odds on a probable

sloppy track. Solar Flare did earn back-to-back 110 Speed ratings when capturing

an allowance/optional claiming event and finishing second in the Suburban H.

(G1) in June, but we'll have to let the four-year-old beat us.

TEMPORARY SAINT (Awesome Again) will show speed under Eddie Castro and could

last a long way. The five-year-old gelding ran well in his last two-turn start,

just missing in a nine-furlong Saratoga allowance four starts back, and he owns plenty of stakes experience, winning the 1 1/8-mile Excelsior

H. (G3) at the Big A in April. Temporary Saint has recorded solid efforts in his

two previous wet-track starts, and we won't be surprised to see another fine

showing from the David Jacobson-trained gray.

PHIL THE POWER (Red Bullet) has never run at the Big A and has been competing

in 1 1/2-mile events over the past few months. Throwing out his last race on the

turf, the Joe Orseno trainee will bring respectable form into this event, but he

will be tested for class. Consider for the bottom of the exotics at a price.

STUD MUFFIN (Raffie's Majesty) is two for three over the track and likes the

distance (6-3-1-1), but the New York-bred will be stepping up in class. We'll

have to go against.

Grade 1-placed HELSINKI (Distorted Humor) will make his first start this year

and first under the care of John Terranova. We'll give the plodder at least one

start before backing him. RAVEL (Fusaichi Pegasus) showed a lot of promise in

early 2007, but he was sidelined for eight months and hasn't been much of a

factor in his last four starts.