Prairie Meadows Cornhusker

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A useful field of eight will go postward in the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. (G2)
on Saturday. DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris) won the Iowa Derby
over this oval in impressive fashion last year and we’ll tab the gelding to
remain perfect over this surface. Trained by Pete Anderson, the gray gelding has
yet to pick up where he left off as a sophomore, but we’ll give him a pass for
his seventh-place effort in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) in his latest. The
four-year-old smoked a bullet half-mile in preparation of this and should get a
nice pace to run at late under Miguel Mena.

FAIRBANKS (Giant’s Causeway) has a good deal of ability and early foot, and
will surely be a major factor in this heat for Todd Pletcher. The five-year-old
disappointed in his latest and has lost when bet down to low odds in his last
three chances, so it’s hard to get too confident in backing the well-bred bay.
The expensive yearling hasn’t won since early 2007 and we’ll keep him as the
exacta filler on this occasion under Julien Leparoux.

ZANJERO (Cherokee Run) is a consistent, late-running four-year-old for Steve
Asmussen who almost always fires. The dark bay, winner of the Indiana Derby (G2)
in his sophomore finale, exits a solid runner-up performance in the Lone Star
Park H. (G3) and will likely be closing as good as any in the field down the
lane. The possible favorite is well drawn on the rail and sports a solid 4-1-1-2
mark at this trip. Robby Albarado will guide the colt.

The horse-for-course in this group in WAYZATA BAY (Roar), who has compiled a
15-7-4-0 mark at his home track. The Judith Hicklin charge finished a solid
fifth in this event last year and had a nice prep for this, finishing second in
the Jim Rasmussen Memorial S. The six-year-old dark bay drilled a bullet five panels in
advance of this and has a big chance at a top-three finish with a sensible trip.

TEMPORARY SAINT (Awesome Again) was last seen finishing fourth in the Pimlico
Special H. (G1) and should enjoy the drop in class in this field. Claimed for
$50,000 last October, the gelding has posted two wins and a second from
four starts for Bruce Levine, including a clear tally in the Excelsior H. (G3)
two back. The Kentucky-bred has been freshened for this, and the five-year-old’s
owner is from Iowa, so it might be fitting that this one runs big. If the fleet
gray could be alone early, he could get awfully brave in the stretch.

ENCAUSTIC (Broad Brush) ran two good ones in succession for Asmussen and
rates a logical exotics threat in here with something close to his last pair.
The late-blooming four-year-old has never run this far but is bred to handle
this trip and longer, and it’s possible he moves up some as the distance
increases. The bay has shown good early speed as of late and could get
a perfect trip in here under Luis Quinonez. With that said, he still looks to be
a cut below the top ones in here and is probably best used in the gimmicks.

PROM SHOES (Include) showed little in the grassy Opening Verse H. last out
but will surely improve in his return to the dirt for William “Jinks” Fires. The
four-year-old looked good in beating a few in here in the Fifth Season S. three
back, but we’re not sure about him running nine furlongs against this caliber
and we’ll leave him off our tickets. SUMAC (Crafty Prospector) upset the
Rasmussen but will find this field infinitely tougher and we won’t use or
suggest him.