W.L. McKnight

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An overflow field of 16, four are whom are on the also-eligible list, will

travel 12 furlongs on the lawn in Saturday's $200,000 W. L. McKnight H.

(G2) at Calder. STREAM OF GOLD (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) has steadily

improved in his three tries in the United States and we'll tab the Kiaran

McLaughlin trainee for the top prize in this spot. The gelded six-year-old was

clearly second best in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) two back

and finished a close fourth in the Canadian International S. (Can-G1) last out,

and either of those races would make him especially tough in here. The bay has

enough tactical speed to overcome his wide post, and we expect him to be the one

to best in the final furlong under Eddie Castro.

The ageless REVVED UP (Sultry Song) was game in taking the Bonnie Heath Turf

Cup S. last out and sports a 4-3-1-0 mark over this course, so the Christophe

Clement trainee looks very live in this contest. The nine-year-old gray shows

four wins at this distance, comes into this race relatively fresh and has good

tactical speed, which should give him first run on the main competition. Kent

Desormeaux will ride the gelding.

Impressive Red Smith H. (G2) hero DAVE (Ends Well) loves a route of ground

and was clearly best in his latest, so the Barclay Tagg trainee merits serious

attention in this field. The New York-bred didn't top the greatest field ever

assembled in the Red Smith, but the consistent six-year-old is a proven

commodity at the stakes level and he always packs a solid late punch. The

bay will be far back early and would benefit greatly from an honest

pace, but we're not sure if it will be fast enough early to pass all of these in

here. The top contender will be guided by Joe Bravo.

SOLDIER'S DANCER (Lost Soldier) possesses a lethal turn of foot and boasts a

solid 6-3-2-0 mark over this course, so he's another with a shot at the win in

here. The David Vivian-trained three-year-old was a close second in the Bonnie

Heath last out, which followed a six-length demolition in the Calder Derby (G3),

so the sophomore is in good current form entering this one. The one-run closer

will have to pass most of them in the lane in his first try at 12 panels,

and it's difficult to side with him in his 11th start of the year. Cornelio

Velasquez will guide the gray.

INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) was a distant third in the Joe Hirsch and has never

defeated a field of this quality, but the gelding always fires a decent late

kick and he could fill out some exotics with a good trip. KISS THE KID (Lemon

Drop Kid) has registered triple digit BRIS Speed numbers in seven of his last

eight outings and could find a top four placing with his best. We're not excited

about the 12 post or the fact that the four-year-old is unproven at this trip,

but his fourth in the Joe Hirsch would be good enough to find a similar spot in

here.

DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet) was no factor over the yielding turf in the Red

Smith last out and hasn't crossed the finish line in front since November of

2005, so his lone inclusion would be on the bottom end of the exotics. GOLDEN

STRATEGY (Strategic Mission), the likely pacesetter in here, folded quickly in

the Red Smith but showed good staying ability in the Kentucky Cup Turf S. (G3)

earlier in this campaign, so he's far from a total throw-out in this one. If the

four-year-old sets a soft pace, he could hang around for awhile.

CROWN POINT (Honor Grades) owns just three wins from 32 career starts and

looks up against it in here. The inconsistent sort looks very good on his best

days, but equally bad on other occasions and we can't endorse him in this spot.

ROYAL CHALLENGER (Touch Gold) has flopped against graded company in Canada and

will be hard pressed to challenge these foes for Brian Lynch. The Stronach

Stables homebred was good enough to capture the 2006 Breeders S., and place in

this year's Singspiel S. and Chief Bearhart S., but we'd be surprised if he hit

the board against these.

BEE CHARMER (Ire) (Anabaa) is clearly better at marathon distances and was a

game second in the Sycamore S. (G3) two back, but his best doesn't look to be

good enough to top this field for Michael Matz. PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem)

was seventh in the Tropical Turf H. (G3) most recently against lesser and

would need a career best to make his mark with this type in his first try at 1

1/2 miles. 

IMAWILDANDCRAZYGUY (Wild Event), who is cross-entered to the Fred Hooper H.

(G3), is the best of the also-eligibles in here but would

be a surprise on this occasion. The gray sophomore would only factor with a pace

meltdown. The remaining also-eligibles are REHOBOTH (Wagon Limit), who is clearly better on the main oval; BOB'S PROUD

MOMENT (Proud and True), who is one-for-23 on the grass; and DANCING FOREVER (Rahy),

who is still eligible for a second-level allowance tilt.