Twilight Eclipse gets time to shine in Pan American

"In our previous races, I thought we were a little bit unlucky. When we faced

him in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth, we were unfortunately pinned inside

a little bit, and Main Sequence got the jump on us, and also in the next race at

Belmont (Turf Classic [G1]), something similar happened where he got first jump

on us, but I had no excuses last time. We got the first jump and we still got

caught, but our horse is doing really good, and I feel really good about our

chances this weekend."

Imagining (Giant's Causeway), last year's Man o' War (G1) winner, is looking

to rebound in the 1 1/2-mile turf event after sub-par performances in the

Gulfstream Park H. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) in his last two. The

seven-year-old chestnut finished in close attendance to Twilight Eclipse

multiple times last season.

Trainer Graham Motion, who conditions Main Sequence, has a serious contender

in Glenard (Arch), a sharp second in the Fair Grounds H. (G3) in his U.S. debut.

Also exiting that race is third-place finisher Pyrite Mountain (Silent Name),

who narrowly missed winning a Grade 3 at Kentucky Downs last fall.

The likely pacesetter is Change of Command (Gators N Bears), who held on for

third in the Mac Diarmida at odds of 30-1.

Riposte (Dansili), a Group 2 winner in England and the U.S., is the one to

beat in the $150,000

Orchid (G3)

for fillies and mares, also at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The Juddmonte Farms

homebred captured the Ribblesdale (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot at three, the

Sheepshead Bay (G2) and New York (G2) at Belmont last year, and enters off a

second in the February 21 The Very One (G3) in her first start in nearly eight

months.

Primary challengers include Tabreed (Sakhee), third in The Very One last time

and making her final start before retiring to WinStar Farm for broodmare duty;

Photo Call (Gallileo) third in the December 27 La Prevoyante H. (G3) in her

stakes debut for Graham Motion; and French stakes-winning import Beauty Parlor

(Elusive Quality), who makes her U.S. debut for Christophe Clement.

Among those set to oppose is multiple Grade 3 winner Sandiva

(Footstepsinthesand), most recently the heroine of the Suwannee River (G3);

Grade 2-winning speedster Istanford (Istan); Lady Lara (Excellent Art), first in

the Pebbles and second in the Mrs. Revere (G2) in her two U.S. outings last

fall; Marbre Rose (Smart Strike), who took the South Beach when last seen in

December; and the multiple stakes-placed Party Now (Tiznow).

The male counterpart to the Honey Fox, the $150,000

Appleton

(G3), features local Grade 1 scorer Lochte (Medaglia d'Oro) and the

promising War Correspondent (War Front), third by a length in the Gulfstream

Park Turf last time. Other contenders include Mr. Online (Silent Name), second

by a neck in this event last season; Grand Tito (Candy Ride) and Aripeka

(Bernstein), second and third, respectively, in the Canadian Turf (G3) last out;

and gate-to-wire threat Excaper (Exchange Rate).

Encryption (Exchange Rate) could parlay an impressive second-level allowance

win on February 22 into victory over 1 3/16 miles in the $150,000

Skip Away

(G3). Grade 3-placed last season, the Kelly Breen trainee won the

aforementioned allowance by eight lengths going 1 1/16 miles.

Among the hard-knocking opponents are Commissioner (A.P. Indy), last year's

Belmont (G1) runner-up who is still seeking his first career stakes win, and

East Hall (Graeme Hall), who landed the Indiana Derby (G2) and Millions Classic

Preview before a second-place effort to returning rival Sr. Quisqueyano

(Exclusive Quality) in the January 17 Sunshine Millions Classic.

The leading contenders in the $100,000

Sir

Shackleton, a seven-furlong dash for older horses, are Fred W. Hooper (G3)

winner Valid (Medaglia d'Oro), third last out in the Gulfstream Park H. (G2);

multiple Grade 2 veteran Pants On Fire (Jump Start), unraced since mid-December;

and the multiple Grade 3-placed Confrontation (War Pass).

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