Transylvania

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday's $150,000 Transylvania S. (G3) is the opening-day feature at

Keeneland, and nine sophomores are scheduled to travel 1 1/16 miles over the

sod. Rain Thursday and Friday could force the transfer to the Polytrack, but

we'll handicap for soft ground. PRUSSIAN (Danzig) is a deserving 9-5 favorite on

the morning line and may prove too tough to beat in his return, but the Bill

Mott-trained colt didn't handle yielding turf in his last outing, finishing a

disappointing 10th as the 7-2 second choice in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

We'll try to beat him with RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday).

Also trained by Mott, Riley Tucker captured his career bow by six

lengths at Belmont Park, recorded a third in the Saratoga Special (G2), and

wrapped up his juvenile campaign with a second in the Arlington-Washington

Futurity (G3), finishing only a head back of next-out Grade 1 winner Wicked Style

(Macho Uno). The dark bay colt returned this season with a tough-luck sixth in

the Southwest S. (G3), suffering a rough start that contributed to him falling

20 lengths back off the early pace, and he finished second in a Fair Grounds

allowance last time out. We'll look for a top showing in his third start off the

shelf. Bred for the turf, his dam has already produced two turf winners,

including the stakes-winning and 1998 Breeders S. runner-up Patriot Love, and

sire Harlan's Holiday is winning at an 18 percent rate with first-time turf

offspring. Riley Tucker is well-drawn on the rail, allowing Edgar Prado to save

ground early, and he owns back form on Polytrack in the event the race is

transferred.

FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) is intriguing. He's finished first in

three-of-four turf start (disqualified once) and displayed an excellent turn of

foot last time at Fair Grounds, rolling past allowance rivals with an explosive

move to win going away by 4 1/4 lengths. The Chris Block runner definitely

appears to be headed in the right direction, and we give him a chance to run big

in his first stakes appearance.

Prussian looks very dangerous. Unseen under silks since the inaugural running

of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, he is trained by Mott, who excels with layoff

horses. The bay colt romped when making his debut at Saratoga and traveled to

Woodbine to easily win the Summer S. (Can-G3) in his second start. We won't be

surprised to see his last effort over soft ground turn out to be an aberration,

but the possibility exists that he doesn't like soft ground. He's never raced

over a synthetic surface, and we'll give Prussian a start off the 161-day

vacation.

BOSS LAFITTE (Dynaformer) faltered as the 8-5 choice when making his stakes

debut in the Grindstone S. last out, but he did make up a ton of ground late to

finish fourth in a tight finish. The Tom Amoss pupil figures to benefit from the

experience, and Boss Lafitte could make his presence felt late in this spot at

nice odds.

BARRIER REEF (Mizzen Mast) will make his turf bow for Godolphin. The gray

colt appeared to be on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail when capturing the

Whirlaway S. last out at Aqueduct, but his connections elected not to give him

the opportunity. As a result, he's been freshened for 62 days and will now

experiment over the grass. His dam hasn't produced a turf winner from eight

foals to start, and we'll just watch to see how Barrier Reef performs here.

BUDGE MAN (Fusaichi Pegasus) exits a late-running score over

allowance/optional claiming opponents at Turfway. The dark bay gelding has

improved since being transferred to trainer Kellyn Gorder three starts back, but

he'll face a class check in his turf debut. We'll give him consideration for a

minor award if the race gets moved to Polytrack.

LOVE EVERYBODY (Artax) doesn't look fast enough to challenge. SR. HENRY

(Straight Man) hasn't won since taking a maiden claiming event at Calder last

summer and has dropped his last three outings versus entry-level allowance

rivals. Difficult to imagine that he'll do here. Maiden GROOM'S CAT (Magic Cat)

appears overmatched.