To Honor and Serve one to fear in Pennsylvania Derby

John Velazquez, who had been aboard To Honor and Serve for his major wins

last season and in the allowance romp, sides with RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE (Tapit) in

the Pennsylvania Derby. Winner of the Long Branch S. at Monmouth two back, the

gray was silver medalist to both of Todd Pletcher's three-year-old stars in

different races this year. A distant second to Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) in the

Timely Writer S. in only his second lifetime start, Rattlesnake Bridge

progressed enough through the summer by Travers Day to where he proved second

best against Stay Thirsty (Bernardini).

Two other Travers starters are in the lineup. Ruler on Ice was a flat fourth,

four lengths behind Stay Thirsty, after 1 1/4 miles. It was the gelding's second

setback since his 24-1 surprise in the Belmont, the other being his third in the

Haskell Invitational (G1) in late July. The multiple stakes-placed J W BLUE (Sky

Mesa), running for the first time in four races without blinkers, rallied to

crash the Travers trifecta at 32-1, but the deep closer again figures to offer

one of the higher prices on the tote.

The controlling speed in the Pennsylvania Derby is RUSH NOW (Tiznow), who

nearly ran off with the West Virginia Derby (G2) last time before Prayer for

Relief (Jump Start) kicked on late to deny him by a half-length. A stablemate of

J W Blue in the Tony Dutrow barn, Rush Now might prove dangerous if not kept

honest.

Darley's ARTHUR'S TALE (Bernardini) makes his return Saturday from an

injury-enforced layoff. Narrowly beaten by a neck in the Wood Memorial S. (G1)

in his most recent outing, he emerged from that Aqueduct test with a popped

splint that kept him out of the Kentucky Derby (G1). Of sounder body this season

has been PENDER HARBOUR (Philanthropist), gutsy winner of the final two legs of

the Canadian Triple Crown. Third to the filly in Inglorious (Hennessy) in the

series' first leg, the Queen's Plate contested on Polytrack, Pender Harbour came

back to take the Prince of Wales on dirt and the Breeders' on turf by a nose

each time.

The Derby field is rounded out by Gotham S. (G3) runner-up NORMAN ASBJORNSON

(Real Quiet), who ran fourth in the Wood Memorial and 11th in the Preakness S.

(G1) before taking a recent Parx allowance, and the overmatched ISN'T HE PERFECT

(Pleasantly Perfect), who remains eligible for a first-level allowance after 16

career starts.

A field of seven three-year-olds will dash six furlongs in the $250,000

Gallant Bob H., a race that honors the 1975 champion sprinter. The likely

favorite is the toast of South Florida, INDIANO (Indian Charlie), who's reeled

off three wins this summer over the Calder strip, including the Carry Back S.

(G2). Another expected to attract serious play is the Grade 1-placed WINE POLICE

(Speightstown), who ran third in the Amsterdam two back before garnering top

honors in the Distorted Humor S. at Saratoga on September 2.

POSEIDON'S WARRIOR (Speightstown), a swift stakes winner at Penn National in

late July, could bounce back from a sixth-place effort in the King's Bishop S.

(G1). The rest, including the streaking West Virginia allowance type HE'S

SPEIGHTFUL (Speightstown), have form to find to upset the two favorites.