Mr. Prospector J

Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector H. (G3) marks the six-year-old bow for
dual classic winner FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor), who will make his first start
since early July. Winless in three attempts last year, Funny Cide was dogged by
back problems, and the jury is still out as to whether he can regain his past
form. Even if he performs better than ever this year, the Barclay Tagg-trained
gelding might need a start back, especially at six furlongs. We’ll be rooting
for him to run well, but will go with FRIENDLY ISLAND (Crafty Friend) for the
win.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old ran extremely well against New
York-bred rivals in 2004, recording four straight wins and triple-digit BRIS
Speed ratings, but he didn’t make his 2005 debut until late October, winning the
six-furlong Hudson H. and receiving a 105 Speed figure. That race figured to
take something out of him, but Friendly Island returned four weeks later with a
commendable fourth in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. (G1). The chestnut
owns the Speed and Pace numbers to run huge in this spot, and he looks like a
serious presence on the front end with John Velazquez.

Funny Cide captured a seven-furlong optional-claiming event the
last time he sprinted, but the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner is at a
disadvantage going six furlongs. He does own some tactical speed and could prove
extremely dangerous if the speed is backing up on Saturday, but second or third
is probably a much more realistic scenario for the classy chestnut.

SIR GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) has early gas and exits a solid win over four
rivals in the Fly So Free S. at the Big A. Trained by James Jerkens, the
four-year-old gelding owns experience at this level and could challenge for it
all in his South Florida debut. Sir Greeley has earned Speed ratings as high as
107 (twice) and merits consideration for the top spot.

GAFF (Maria’s Mon) took to the main track in his second U.S. start, winning a
six-furlong optional-claiming event at Belmont Park, and followed up
with a sharp 3 3/4-length allowance score at Churchill Downs that netted him a
102 Speed rating. The Steve Asmussen charge showed class in Europe and is tough
to overlook with his encouraging form last fall. We’ll include him in some
exotics.

WAR FRONT (Danzig) cuts back to a sprint off a failed attempt in the 8
1/2-furlong Discovery H. (G3), and the Allen Jerkens trainee shows some nice
works in preparation for his first start outside of New York. He’s won his last
two starts sprinting, but the four-year-old hasn’t faced rivals this salty at
shorter distances. We’ll just watch to see how he fares. STORM SURGE (Storm Cat)
offered a decent rally for second in a seven-furlong stakes event at Calder last
out, but he’s dropped nine straight starts and six furlongs may not be his best
distance.

NIGHTMARE AFFAIR (Out of Place) loves Calder but has never had any luck
cross-town at Gulfstream (winless from eight attempts). The gray returns off a
freshening and didn’t run well at short odds the last time off a layoff. PISGAH
(Good and Tough) has been facing much softer company and won’t get the easy
early lead that he’s enjoyed in his last three starts. The chestnut could
struggle in his graded debut.