AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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REBEL S. (G2), 10TH-OP, $300,000, 3YO, 1 1/16M, 5:47 P.M. CST, 3-13 |
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| 1 |
CARDIFF GIANT, 3, c, by Yankee GentlemanStop the Croquet, by Stop the Music O-M Racing Group LLC; B-Kim & Rodney Nardelli (Ky) |
| 2 |
LOOKIN AT LUCKY, 3, c, by Smart StrikePrivate Feeling, by Belong to Me O-Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-Gulf Coast Farms LLC (Ky) |
| 3 |
ROYAL EXPRESS, 3, c, by Royal AcademyDeposit Express, by Deposit Ticket O-Richard F. Rudolph; B-Rudolph Richard F. (Il) |
| 4 |
UH OH BANGO, 3, c, by Top HitFrench Debutante, by French Deputy O-Triple Aaa Ranch; B-Triple Aaa Ranch (Az) |
| 5 |
PLEASANT STORM, 3, c, by Pleasant TapBurning Fever, by Stormin Fever O-Vickie Fixley; B-Vickie McBee Fixley (Ok) |
| 6 |
NOBLE’S PROMISE, 3, c, by CuveeThe Devil’s Trick, by Clever Trick O-Chasing Dreams Racing 2008 LLC; B-C. Kidder Cole & B. Kidder (Ky) |
| 7 |
DUBLIN, 3, c, by Afleet AlexClassy Mirage, by Storm Bird O-Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack; B-Peter E. Blum & Gerry Dilger (Ky) |
Reigning juvenile champ LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) will make his
much-anticipated sophomore debut in Saturday’s $300,000 Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn
Park. Trained by Bob Baffert, the brilliant, multiple Grade 1 winner has never
run on dirt nor with blinkers, and he could be ripe in his sophomore bow, but
we’ll still back the classy colt. There is enough pace in this race to suggest
that the bay can get a nice trip from midpack before being asked for his best by
Garrett Gomez.
UH OH BANGO (Top Hit) had a superb juvenile season which concluded with a
tough defeat in the lucrative Delta Jackpot S. (G3). The Kory Owens trainee was
second in the Iroquois S. (G3) prior to that and has proven to us that he
belongs in a field like this. We’re both intrigued and surprised that the colt
did not take the western route to the Kentucky Derby (G1), but that could be viewed
as a big positive. We think the unheralded sophomore hits the board in this one
under regular pilot Glenn Corbett.
Hopeful S. (G1) winner DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) turned in a fine performance in
the Southwest S. (G3) over this oval despite being troubled on a few occasions.
The talented sophomore finished his juvenile campaign in poor fashion, but he
might have turned the corner in the interim and seems like a logical win
candidate in here. The chestnut has fired bullets in both of his works since the
Southwest, but
we’re still treading lightly on this one until he proves more consistent.
CARDIFF GIANT (Yankee Gentleman) is in fine form and deserves mention as a
longshot play for Jorge Periban. The gritty chestnut has chased Conveyance
(Indian Charlie) in his last pair and will be glad not to see that one, but the
bad news is that he has to top another one from the Baffert barn. The
overachiever is a top-three candidate from the rail.
Grade 1 hero NOBLE’S PROMISE (Cuvee), like our top pick, will also be making
his sophomore debut while auditioning on the dirt. The Ken McPeek trainee has
tracked top company while never being worse than third in his career and has
reportedly trained well to ready for this difficult assignment. We have a hunch
that the colt won’t like the main strip, but we have nothing to back that up
with and would suggest this one’s inclusion in everything. Robby Albarado has
the call.
PLEASANT STORM (Pleasant Tap) was unplaced in the Southwest after running
three big ones to begin his career for trainer Joe Petalino. The dark bay colt
earned a 102 BRIS Late Pace number last out and should enjoy the extra sixteenth
in this 1 1/16-mile test, but the competition is much stiffer and we’ll toss him from win
consideration.
The speedy ROYAL EXPRESS (Royal Academy) should be the target for the rest of
this field turning for home, and we’d be surprised if the likely longshot were
to hold on in here.