Hill Prince

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight sophomores are set for Friday’s $100,000 Hill Prince S. (G3), which
figures to be held over a rain-softened turf at Belmont Park. HATTA FORT (GB)
(Cape Cross [Ire]) owns plenty of experience over courses with give to them in
Europe, and the English Group 2 winner will be making his second U.S. start
here.

The Godolphin colorbearer made his U.S. debut over the Polytrack at Keeneland
and just missed in the seven-furlong Lafayette S., closing with a rush to record
a second by a nose. He’s recorded four straight works over the turf at Belmont
in preparation for this race, and the bay should find the one-mile distance a
perfect fit. We’ll look for him to finish up strongly with John Velazquez for
the win.

GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) is a logical contender for Christophe Clement,
who excels at bringing back horses off the layoff. The bay colt was last seen
finishing a troubled eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but he opened
his racing career with a pair of nice victories on the turf, including a facile
maiden special weight score at Belmont. We’ll look for him to return in good
form off the 224-day rest.

MORAL COMPASS (Grand Slam) will enter this event off a smart allowance score
at Belmont and recorded a good third in the Palm Beach S. (G3) two starts back.
The Barclay Tagg runner owns an excellent 4-2-1-1 mark over Belmont’s turf, and
we like the fact that he’s in sharp form presently. We’ll use him in the
exotics.

DYNHOCRACY (Adhocracy) could show speed under Cornelio Velasquez and is a
threat to hold for a minor award. The Bill Kaplan pupil will be making his first
start off a lengthy freshening, but he appears to be working well and is a
stakes winner on the sod. Consider for the exotics.

PRUSSIAN (Danzig) would rate much more favorably with firm conditions, but
the likelihood of soft turf is a major concern for us. He couldn’t handle the
yielding ground at Monmouth Park in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Bill
Mott scratched him from the Crown Royal American Turf (G3) on May 2 due to rain.
We’ll look for better from him down the road.

SPARK CANDLE (A.P. Indy) is out of champion Serena’s Song (Rahy), but the maiden
winner will be tested for class here. Last out, he faltered to sixth in the Peter Pan S.
(G2) behind his stablemate, Belmont S. (G1) entrant Casino Drive (Mineshaft), and his best efforts in Japan came at longer distances. We’ll
just watch to see how he fares here at a mile.

Maiden winner TITAN OF INDUSTRY (Giant’s Causeway) hasn’t been a serious
factor in four stakes appearances and probably needs an easier spot to
challenge.

WRITINGONTHEWALL (E Dubai) will be making his stakes bow and his first start
against open company, and the New York-bred gelding might find this company too
tough.