Woodward

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

All eyes will be on Saratoga on Saturday, as the mighty CURLIN (Smart Strike)

headlines the cast in the $500,000 Woodward S. (G1). The Steve Asmussen charge

is nothing short of brilliant when he's on his game, which is often, and he's

won his last five dirt races by a nearly 19 combined lengths -- impressive

considering four of those were in Grade/Group 1 tilts. The chestnut is sure to be a

massive favorite in this race and rightfully so, as he looks untouchable at

equal weights. Robby Albarado, who lost a heartbreaker in the Travers S. (G1)

last weekend, will look for a sort of redemption in here.

Met Mile S. (G1) victor DIVINE PARK (Chester House) has been a brilliant

one-turn runner for Kiaran McLaughlin and will likely be the second choice at

post time in this fray. The talented four-year-old responded well from a pair of

awful outings to win three straight, capped by the Met. The colt is fast and has

earned superb BRIS Speed rating of 106, 109 and 110 in his last trio of tests,

so he's the most logical obstacle standing in front of the favorite.

Talented turf performer OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori) will attempt to handle

the surface switch for Bobby Frankel in here, and it would be unwise to question

the Hall of Fame conditioner's motives in here. The five-year-old finished a big

second when last seen in the Manhattan H. (G1) on the lawn at Belmont and has

trained in superb fashion over the Oklahoma in advance of this Herculean test.

We respect Frankel and will include the bay beneath John Velazquez.

Speed merchant WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold) has put in some monster

efforts over this surface and had a nice prep win leading up to this event, and

we've seen Nick Zito knock off more than one champion in the Empire State. The

seven-year-old chestnut is likely to be the early leader in this field and could

get really brave if left alone on the front under Julien Leparoux.

PAST THE POINT (Indian Charlie) earned a 106 BRIS Speed number in his prep

win for this and hails from the hot Eoin Harty barn. This bay showed a lot of

promise as a sophomore and just might be coming into his peak at four, but this

is a tough spot for him to earn his first graded win. Edgar Prado will ride.

LOOSE LEAF (Notebook) loves this oval and was dead game to win his recent

allowance race for Ken McPeek, indicating that he could get a small piece if a

speed duel occurs.

A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) loves a route of ground but showed little in the

Whitney H. (G1) last out, and we can't suggest his inclusion off of that dismal

performance. DR. D. F. C. (Personal Flag) defeated New York-bred foes in his

tune up for this and would need something exponentially better than he has shown

from 19 career outings to get a call in this one.