Brooklyn J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Friday’s $200,000 Brooklyn H. (G2) will be contested at 1 1/2 miles for the
first time since 1990, and the distance has been increased to serve as a
potential prep race for this year’s inaugural running of the $500,000 Breeders’
Cup Dirt Marathon. DELOSVIENTOS (Siphon [Brz]) exits an impressive win over the
track and trip, taking the Fit to Fight S. in front-running style, and we’ll tab
him for another wire-to-wire score.

Owned and trained by Giussepe Iadisernia, Delosvientos has really hit his
best stride in his last two starts. After opening 2008 with a pair of setbacks,
he stretched out to nine furlongs and crushed allowance/optional claiming rivals
at Gulfstream Park, winning by six lengths on the front end. Next came the Fit
to Fight, which the dark bay gelding easily captured by 2 1/4 lengths, and he
registered an excellent 107 BRIS Speed rating for the effort. The Kentucky-bred
is the probable lone speed here and should be able to catch a breather under
Eibar Coa while setting slow early fractions. We love his current form and
expect to see him make it three straight wins.

NITE LIGHT (Thunder Gulch) merits serious respect. The four-year-old colt
reeled off four consecutive victories, including wins in the 1 1/2-mile Coyote
Lakes S. and 1 5/8-mile Gallant Fox H., before recording a fast-finishing second
in the Excelsior H. (G3) last time out. The Todd Pletcher runner couldn’t catch
the lone speed last time, and that scenario might repeat itself in the Brooklyn. Nite
Light will receive a rider switch to John Velazquez, and he remains very
dangerous at low odds.

AWFULLY SMART (Anees) received a useful tightener when making his 2008 debut
in the Brandywine S. last out, finishing third, and he’ll probably appreciate
the added ground here. The Alan Goldberg-trained gelding turned in several
respectable efforts last season, earning a 109 Speed rating for a win in the
Stymie S. and a 107 for a victory in the D.T.H.A. Owners’ Day S., and he owns
good tactical speed. He should be forwardly placed early under Javier
Castellano, and we give him a shot to hold for part at a nice price.

EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) owns tons of back class and recorded
a commendable second in the Fit to Fight most recently. The 10 year-old gelding
hasn’t been breaking well from the starting gate, but trainer Pat Kelly worked
him last week from the gate in preparation for the Brooklyn. The venerable gray
still owns a pretty decent late kick, registering triple-digit Late Pace numbers
in two of his starts this year, and he’s a candidate to grab another minor award
here.

ANGLIANA (Giant’s Causeway) is another one to consider for the top three.
Switched to Gary Contessa recently, the six-year-old has finished second in his
only two starts over Big Sandy, including the 2005 running of the Lawrence
Realization S. We’re concerned that the gelding will leave himself with too much
to do, but the late runner is still capable of a good showing with his best.

SIGHTSEEING (Pulpit) could outperform our expectations, but he’s been racing
at mostly shorter distances without being a real threat in his last six starts. A
Grade 2 winner, the four-year-old colt has always seemingly had the potential to
be a top-class performer, but Sightseeing has mostly failed to live up to
expectations so far. The plodder doesn’t figure to have much pace up front, and
we’ll have to let him beat us.

IMAWILDANDCRAZYGUY (Wild Event) steps up off a nice score at Calder, but the
one-run closer may not appreciate the added ground here.