Washington Park

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

With little early speed in Saturday’s $200,000 Washington Park H. (G3),
WICKED STYLE (Macho Uno) has the perfect opportunity to lead wire to wire. We
remember his 2007 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) coup at 11-1, a stellar front-running
victory over Keeneland’s Polytrack, and the Rusty Arnold trainee is two for
three over the synthetic oval at Arlington. After sustaining an injury at the end of
his juvenile season, the chestnut colt was unplaced in three starts last year.
He’s turned things around at four, recording a couple of wins, and will enter
off a confidence-building score over allowance/optional claiming rivals on the
turf in Chicago. Wicked Style is the inside speed on Saturday, and we’ll look
for him to handle the stretch out to 1 3/16 miles beneath Jesus Castanon.

PALLADIO (Lycius) exits an encouraging victory in the Seagram Cup S. (Can-G3)
at Woodbine, and we have serious respect for the classy Roger Attfield veteran.
The seven-year-old registered a 96 BRIS Speed rating last time for his 1
1/4-length win, indicating that he’s still in top form, and the Florida-bred is
proven on Polytrack. Palladio also owns good tactical speed, which should ensure
a favorable stalking trip just off the front runners, and he’s a threat to
strike under Richard Dos Ramos.

CHURCH SERVICE (Pulpit) is often close at the finish in these long-distance
routes, including a head runner-up in the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup
Marathon last October, but he doesn’t own a winning attitude, compiling only one
stakes tally and eight placings. He recorded a fast-finishing third as the
favorite in the Cougar II H. last time at Del Mar, and the former claimer has
hit the board in his last four starts on synthetic tracks. We won’t select him
on top at short odds (2-1 morning line favorite), but we’ll definitely include
the Mike Mitchell gelding in the top three.

UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat) ships in on the upswing for Barry Abrams,
recording a 24-1 upset in the Cougar II and a fast-closing fifth in the Del Mar H.
(G2) in his last two starts, and he picks up the services of leading rider
Junior Alvarado for his Arlington debut. The late runner could be hampered by a
slow pace, but we must respect the way he’s been finishing in his recent starts.

DUBIOUS MISS (E Dubai) also merits consideration for part. The five-year-old
gelding had won four of his last six starts before throwing in a clunker last time at
Mountaineer, but he’s two for three on synthetics and is eligible to rebound in
this spot for Paul McGee. He earned some strong BRIS Late Pace numbers in his
recent starts, and Dubious Miss will be close to the pace with his natural
speed. ELDAAFER (A.P. Indy) upset the Brooklyn H. (G2) at 17-1 two starts back,
winning by a nose over a sloppy track, but the wet-track specialist is unplaced
in his lone start on an all-weather track. We won’t be shocked to see him handle
the transition, but we still have class concerns with the four-year-old gelding.

GRAN ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) was claimed for $20,000 four starts back,
but the six-year-old will bring a five-race winning skein into this event. The
Michael Stidham runner owns some quickness, but he’s more comfortable tracking
the pace and will probably be sitting second or third during the early stages on
Saturday. His recent form does give us pause, but we can’t envision him handling
the class hike. LET IT ROCK (Trippi) probably needs an easier spot and less
ground to be effective.