John B. Connally BC Turf J

The $200,000 John B. Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf H. (G3), Saturday’s closing
night feature at Sam Houston, has drawn an intriguing cast of seven. Although
SILVER TREE (Hennessy) will be giving away weight with his 119-pound impost, and
will offer little value as the 8-5 morning-line favorite, we think he’s simply
the best horse in the 1 1/8-mile affair. The Bill Mott charge has considerable
back class as a Grade 2 winner at Saratoga in 2004, and he has continued to
perform well in tough company over the following years. After Silver Tree’s form
tailed off last summer, he was given an extended break. In his seven-year-old
bow last time out, he displayed blazing acceleration to get up in time in the
one-mile Appleton H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, recording a field-topping 106 BRIS
Speed rating. Silver Tree will rate off the early pace, but still within hailing
distance of the leaders, and should uncork a winning move beneath Roimes
Chirinos.

The Steve Asmussen-trained STORM TREASURE (Storm Boot) regularly earns gaudy
Late Pace ratings while charging from far back, and the chestnut has six
stakes-placed efforts to his credit. While he is becoming a frustrating type
with a 1-for-16 mark, the nine-furlong trip is very much to his advantage. In
his only two attempts at the distance, Storm Treasure has finished strongly for
third in both the Jefferson Cup S. (G2) last June and the Fair Grounds Breeders’
Cup H. (G3) two starts back. The four-year-old’s chances would be boosted by an
honest pace, but he has also closed well off a moderate tempo. If not the most
straightforward individual, he certainly has talent and could finally break
through here with Jose Figueroa.

We’ve long admired the honest FORT PRADO (El Prado [Ire]), who returns to
Houston to defend his title in the Connally. The gray entered last year’s event
in peak form, but this time around, he’s coming off a poor fifth in the Fair
Grounds Breeders’ Cup. That was his worst career loss on turf, beaten 7 1/2
lengths in a dull effort. Trainer Jeff Trosclair isn’t sure why Fort Prado
didn’t show up that day, so he decided to freshen him and regroup. The
six-year-old has apparently responded, posting a bullet five-furlong move at
Fair Grounds on March 25, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him rebound here.
Corey Lanerie picks up the mount.

The reformed claimer MENDING FENCES (Forestry) has a simple strategy: gun to
the front from the rail post and go as far as possible. The Marty Wolfson pupil
has been well beaten in both of his prior stakes tries, but he is on the top of
his game right now and competing at a distance that he loves. Last time out, he
set the pace in a Gulfstream allowance and was not disgraced when succumbing to
multiple Grade 1 hero English Channel (Smart Strike), who broke the course
record. We’re not convinced that Mending Fences is up to this class test, but
the front runner could hold on for a minor award. EMBOSSED (Ire) (Mark of Esteem
[Ire]) is exiting a respectable sixth in a deep renewal of the Gulfstream Park
Breeders’ Cup Turf S. (G1). Although he will rally in the stretch, he has never
beaten a field of this caliber and will likely have to settle for a small piece
of the purse.

GENERAL CHARLEY (Truluck) is an early pace factor who has major class issues
in this spot. DOCTOR DOCTOR MRMD (Dr. Adagio) has been beaten by lesser.