Delaware Park 29 May 2010
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This should go the way of ICELUS who has made steady progress over his six starts to date. He has been placed twice at Laurel Park in better contests than this and looks the one to beat, dropped in class tonight. Cat Daddy looks flattered by his form figures but saw off the likes of Davids Little Boy and Mystic Harbor when second in this grade here last time and looks the one for the exacta.
Longlegged Ali is not the most consistent but has been placed in much better races recently and has every chance on her best form. Fall Forest and Separate Checks have gone close in a similar contest recently and shouldn't be too far away but preference is for WALL OF WORRY, less exposed than many of these rivals and a close third in a $10k claimer over this trip at Penn last month. He should prove too good in this grade.
Not much to go on here but DYLAN THE DEPUTY was a close and closing second over four and a half furlongs here in a similar contest last time. He's open to plenty of improvement after just two starts and can open his account stepped up in trip tonight. The danger looks to be I. Turner, a close second at Pimlico on his debut but up in class tonight while I'm Steppin It Up and Dr. Mont E. Brook look the pick of the newcomers.
Brooks Star landed a $25k claimer at Keeneland last October but he's been disappointing in three outings since. Flight To Eden disappointed in this grade over 5f here this month but that was his first run in six months and he's capable of better. It might be worth taking a chance on BEYOND READY, who appeared in a Grade 3 contest at Turfway Park in the summer of 2008. He only ran once in 2009 and his recent C&D outing in a much better contest than this was his first run in 16 months. He should strip fitter for that effort, when he faded late, and would prove far too good in this company if back to anything like his best.
Plenty in with chances here but preference is for DEUCES TAKEM, who returned from nine months off the track to take a good fourth over a mile at Tampa Bay in February. He should strip a lot fitter for that outing, is open to further improvement after just three starts and can land the spoils dropped in class tonight. Cherokee Raider has put in some good efforts in this grade and looks the danger while chances can also be given to Investment Grade and Walkin' Boss.
Black And Amber won a $40k claimer over 6f here last September and has continued to run well since. He makes more appeal than the in-form Stone In Love, whose best recent efforts have come in a slightly lower grade. Preference, however, is for COURTING WISDOM. who landed a 6f double here last summer, his second success coming in a $65k claimer. His two subsequent runs were less impressive but he resumes after a five-month break in what looks a modest contest by his standards and he might not need to be back to his best to land the spoils.
This should go the way of LORD OF SMOKE, who looked a good horse in the making when romping home by more than seven lengths in a $10k maiden claimer over 6f at Oaklawn Park on just his fourth start. He followed up with an equally impressive success over five and a half furlongs in this grade here this month and is difficult to oppose tonight. Royal Stare, second in this grade at Pimlico last time and placed in two better contests previously, looks the danger while Musical Diamonds, Little Tiger and New York Red shouldn't be too far away.
Hard to rule any of these out but preference is for the turf specialist, R VICARIOUS GIRL. Ten of her 13 wins have come on grass and her recent success in a valuable starter's allowance race at Atlanta looks like winning form in this company. If the race is switched to the main track then Pyramyst, second in this grade at Gulfstream Park last time, would pose a threat but bigger dangers could prove to be Katara, third in a Grade 2 at Saratoga last back end, and Dancerina who was second two starts ago in a slightly better contest than this.
ENCAUSTIC was well held at Charles Town last time out but that was in a $100k stakes race. Before that he won impressively twice in a $50k allowance optional claimers at Laurel and that sort of form should be enough for him to land the spoils tonight. Secret Getaway finished well ahead of Honest Man when second in a Grade 2 at Fair Grounds 14 months ago but the latter returned from a year off the track to take a good fourth in a Grade 3 at Belmont last month and makes more appeal tonight.
This should go the way of LORE NIVOUR, who was off the track for a year following his debut here but returned this month to take second in an $8.5k maiden special weight over C&D. He had Jager FPA (third), Missty Dancer (fourth) and Primed And Ready (eighth) a long way behind then and, with further improvement on the cards, should confirm his superiority on his way to landing this prize.
