Swaps

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) is ready for his first appearance since finishing sixth

as the 9-2 second choice in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3, and the Santa

Anita Derby (G1) winner will face only five rivals in Saturday's $350,000 Swaps

S. (G2). The WinStar homebred relishes synthetic tracks, winning the Real Quiet

S. and finishing second in the CashCall Futurity (G1) over Hollywood Park's

Cushion Track last season, and there's no reason to believe he won't be set for

a top performance here.

The Eoin Harty runner opened his sophomore campaign with victories in the

Sham S. (G3) and Santa Anita Derby, which both came at Saturday's 1 1/8-mile

distance, and Colonel John appears to be training forwardly for his return,

recording a crisp five-furlong drill in :59 3/5 (second-fastest of 54 workers)

on Monday. He's a powerful closer, registering century-topping BRIS Late Pace

ratings in five consecutive starts prior to the Kentucky Derby, but also owns

plenty of tactical speed. Garrett Gomez will likely have his mount a few lengths

back during the early stages before asking for Colonel John's best.

TWO STEP SALSA (Petionville) is very promising. After winning his career bow

in January, the Julio Canani pupil captured an allowance/optional claiming event

in March at Santa Anita. He finished second when making his stakes bow in the

Harry Henson S. on April 25 and improved nicely off that effort in the Lazaro

Barrera Memorial S. (G3) on May 18, winning by three lengths. The once-beaten

colt exits a 3 3/4-length romp in the June 15 Affirmed H. (G3). Two Step Salsa

has come a long way in a short period of time, and the dark bay looks like the

lone speed in the Swaps. Whether he's good enough yet to hold off Colonel John

will be determined on Saturday, but we certainly respect his chances.

TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) will likely be forwardly placed under Tyler Baze,

but it's difficult to imagine him garnering his second career victory in this

spot. The Beau Greeley trainee is an honest sort, placing in the Arkansas Derby

(G2), Affirmed and El Camino Real Derby (G3) this season, and we won't count his

Preakness (G1) effort against him since he fell on his face when the gates

opened. We won't be shocked to see the $7,000 yearling purchase break through

with a stakes victory one of these days, but we'll just recommend him for the

bottom of the exotics here.

MADEO (Mizzen Mast) just missed when stretching out to nine furlongs in the

Alydar S. last time, but that effort figures to benefit the John

Shirreffs-trained colt, who is still lightly raced with room for improvement. We

like the 97 BRIS Speed rating he earned two starts back for a sharp allowance

score going 8 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park, and Madeo owns a shot at a top-three

placing here.

TREVOR'S CLEVER (Stephen Got Even) ran down Madeo last time in the Alydar,

but we'll take a stand against the gray colt on this occasion. His lifetime best

Speed figure is only an 87.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner NOWNOWNOW (Whywhywhy) was sent to Europe

this year, but that plan obviously failed, with a fifth and last-place effort in

the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) being the only start to his credit this

year. Now they've brought him back to the states and will run him in a tough

spot on Cushion Track. We'll just watch.