Woody Stephens

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An interesting group of three-year-olds will line up for Saturday's Woody

Stephens S. (G2) on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard. The seven-furlong event is

named for Hall of Fame trainer Woodford C. Stephens, who won five consecutive

runnings of the Belmont S. (G1) (1982-86).

The Steve Asmussen-trained J BE K (Silver Deputy) could be the

speed-of-the-speed and rates our top choice. The dark bay colt set a new track

record for 5 1/2 furlongs when breaking his maiden in front-running fashion by 7

1/2 lengths in his debut at Saratoga, then easily won his first allowance

condition on a wet-fast, sealed track in his seasonal debut at Fair Grounds.

After contesting the early pace and fading in the Louisiana Derby (G2), J Be K

dueled for the early lead before drawing off to an impressive five-length score

in the seven-furlong Bay Shore S. (G3). He set fast, midrace fractions before

holding on well for runner-up honors in the one-mile Withers S. (G3) last out. J

Be K has proven class and Garrett Gomez returns in the saddle.

The Todd Pletcher-trained READY'S IMAGE (More Than Ready) was a top

two-year-old, winning the Sanford S. (G2) and then finishing second in the

Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga. After sustaining an injury in the Champagne S.

(G1), the dark bay colt returned with a determined, off-the-pace victory in the

6 1/2-furlong Adjudicating S. on May 14. Ready's Image figures to move forward

in his second start off the layoff and is our choice to complete the exacta.

SILVER EDITION (Silver Deputy) has improved sharply in his last two starts.

The D. Wayne Lukas trainee was a good-looking winner on Kentucky Oaks Day at

Churchill Downs, taking a six-furlong allowance by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:09 3/5.

In his next outing, the bay colt advanced three wide around the turn, looked a

winner in midstretch, then just missed in the Hirsch Jacobs S. (G3) on Preakness

Day at Pimlico. Silver Edition is a good sleeper for a top-three placing.

Hopeful winner MAJESTIC WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) did not make an impact on the

Kentucky Derby (G1) trail earlier this year, finishing seventh in the Louisiana

Derby and sixth in the Florida Derby (G1), but the Bill Mott pupil showed

significant improvement turning back in distance last out. The bay colt made a

nice four-wide move on the turn before bumping with Macho Again (Macho Uno) in

upper stretch and finishing an even fourth in the Derby Trail S. at Churchill

Downs. He is our upset special.

GROOMEDFORVICTORY (Victory Gallop) and FATAL BULLET (Red Bullet) both merit

respect. The former, trained by Barclay Tagg, broke his maiden in fine fashion

by 5 1/2 lengths going a mile at Gulfstream Park, then encountered a world of

trouble before proving best against state-breds in the 6 1/2-furlong Screenland

S. last out. The latter ships in from Woodbine after winning all three of his

starts this year by open lengths on Polytrack. He lures Edgar Prado aboard.

LING LING QI (Yonaguska) has good early speed and exits a wide third in the

six-furlong Matt Winn S. on Preakness Day at Churchill Downs. The Kenny McPeek

charge has some things to like, but he could be tested for class with these. The

speedy TRUE QUALITY (Elusive Quality) set the pace before finishing third in the

Adjudicating last out. He figures to get sent on the rail. Our concern is that

this may be too far. RUN WITH ME (Delaware Township) has yet to break through in

his first allowance condition and would be a surprise.