Sycamore

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Thursday's $100,000 Sycamore S. (G3) drew an overflow of 14 horses, and one

of the two also-eligibles is guaranteed a spot in the starting gate due to the

defection of Cloudy's Knight, who suffered an injury while training this week

and has been retired.

SOLITAIRE (Victory Gallop) rates top billing. A good second in the 1 1/2-mile

Singspiel S. (Can-G3) two back, the James Bond trainee didn't handle the good

course last time in the John's Call S. at Saratoga but will get the firm

conditions he relishes here. He earned terrific BRIS numbers two back, garnering

a 110 BRIS Speed and 101 Late Pace, and we liked what we saw from the

late-blooming gelding last season. The chestnut five-year-old figures to sit a

good trip with his tactical speed in this bulky field and appears to be training

forwardly for this start. We like his chances from just off the pace.

BRASS HAT (Prized) is a classy old timer who received a nice tune-up for

this event when finishing second in the September 6 Cliff Guilliams H. off a

brief freshening. The nine-year-old veteran has shown an affinity for the course

(4-0-2-2), including a rallying second from the back of the Elkhorn S. (G2) in

April over course and distance. His only bad showings this year came over dirt and a

good course, and the

Buff Bradley charge will get the firm conditions that he relishes on Thursday.

We'll look for him to make his presence felt in the lane once again with Calvin Borel

and will include the gelding in multi-race wagers.

Brazilian import LIGNON'S HERO (Brz) (Crimson Tide) was no factor last time

on the Polytrack at Turfway, but he's eligible to show more while returning to grass in

this spot. The Eduardo Caramori trainee was a sharp three-length allowance

scorer when making his U.S. debut against allowance rivals on June 20 and

followed it with a decent sixth in the John's Call S., offering a belated rally

that fell three lengths short. The five-year-old still has some class concerns

in this spot, but he'll offer plenty of value (20-1 morning line) and looks

intriguing to us for part. We'll take a flier with him in the top three.

MUSKETIER (Ger) (Acatenango) runs well fresh for horseman Roger Attfield and

likes both the course and distance, winning the 12-furlong Elkhorn at

Keeneland by 1 3/4 lengths in his last outing six months ago. The

eight-year-old gray received an excellent 103 BRIS Speed rating for that effort,

and we'll use the Grade 1 runner-up on the bottom of our exotics.

Multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) will

take them as far as he can on the front end. Trainer Mary Hartmann was

encouraged by the seven-year-old gelding's fourth last time against

allowance/optional-claiming rivals at Delaware Park, insisting that it will

tighten him up for future engagements, and we are a little worried that she may

be right. But Presious Passion hasn't been the same performer in two starts

since shipping to Dubai earlier this year and we feel he may have finally lost a

step or two. He figures to be well-supported in the wagering given his back

class, and we're willing to try and beat him at a short price.

YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) has never finished out of the money in

five attempts over Keeneland's sod, including a third in the 2009 Sycamore. The

stalker is eligible to rebound with a good showing for Dale Romans, but his recent

form is too discouraging for us to recommend his chances. He's unplaced in five

of his last six starts, the lone exception being a third at 7-5 odds in a

Keeneland allowance in April. FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) surged to the early

lead in last year's Sycamore before weakening to sixth and the erratic

five-year-old gelding shows only one victory since then, winning the Louisville H.

(G3) at Churchill Downs. We'll look for more from him next month under the Twin

Spires.

English Group 3 hero TAJAAWEED (Dynaformer) hasn't shown a lot in his U.S.

starts and looks more comfortable at shorter distances. SOUTHERN ANTHEM (Royal

Anthem) owns a decent late kick but would be a surprise at this level. REZIF

(Distant View) surprised at 18-1 in the Kentucky Cup Turf S. (G3) last time, but

that came on yielding turf and we don't like the draw (post 12) or the fact that

he's unplaced in three previous attempts over the course. YOUR ROUND (Distorted

Humor) doesn't like to win and probably prefers a little less ground.

Of the two also-eligibles, recent allowance winner LEIPZIG (A.P. Indy) looks

the most appealing, but it's probably better to look for more down the road from

the well-bred, late-developing Jonathon Sheppard runner. It would be a surprise

to see LEMONADE KID (Lemon Drop Kid) run well if he draws into the field.