Transylvania

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The $100,000 Transylvania S. (G3), Friday’s opening-day feature at Keeneland,
is loaded with speed and should set up nicely for NORDIC TRUCE (Yes It’s True),
who will put his unbeaten mark on the line in the 1 1/16-mile turf affair. A
maiden winner on Calder’s turf two starts back, the Christophe Clement charge
overcame a troubled trip to capture the Dania Beach S. last time, rallying past
nine rivals in the stretch, and Julien Leparoux sticks with the promising late
runner. Clement’s horses tend to run well fresh, and Nordic Truce should
appreciate the move to Keeneland’s turf, which historically favors closers,
after competing over a speed-friendly course at Gulfstream.

CALL SHOT (Tale of the Cat) ran a big race when making his turf debut in the
Dania Beach two starts back, finishing a length back in third, and the Wayne
Catalano-trained colt registered a 111 BRIS Late Pace rating for his effort over
Gulfstream’s main track last time. We’ve been impressed with his form over
turf/synthetics (2-0-2 in four starts) and give the dark bay a chance to run
well at long odds (12-1 morning line). Corey Nakatani picks up the mount on the
late runner.

MACIAS (Purge) is a dangerous entrant for Bob Baffert. The multiple stakes
winner figures to revert to stalking tactics after showing speed in his recent
starts and will have the services of jockey Alan Garcia. The dark bay colt
owns excellent BRIS numbers and is a threat to stave off the deep closers in the
stretch run.

Multiple Irish Group 2-placed KING LEDLEY (Stormin Fever) was never a factor
when making his U.S. debut in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2), but the
sophomore colt returned to the races this year with an encouraging effort in a
five-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Park, offering a strong late rally to
finish a close fourth. Trainer Darrin Miller brings him back 19 days later off
the encouraging tightener and the dark bay should appreciate the stretch out to
8 1/2 furlongs. He’ll be running late under Rajiv Maragh and merits serious
consideration for the exotics.

ALFARABI (Yes It’s True) invades from California off a third-place effort in
the Pasadena S. The Eoin Harty pupil hasn’t shown enough of a finishing kick for
us to select him higher, but his recent form is solid and we wouldn’t be
surprised to see him grab part with Kent Desormeaux. GUYS REWARD (Grand Reward)
will look to make up ground in the final furlongs, but the maiden winner doesn’t
look fast enough to make a significant impact.

LOST APTITUDE (Aptitude) should relish the return to turf following his
46-length trouncing in the Fountain of Youth (G2), but the front-running colt
faces a difficult task in this spot. We’ll look for more from him at Churchill
Downs. STRIKE THE TIGER (Tiger Ridge) and CELTIC NEW YEAR (North Light [Ire])
will both be forwardly placed, and we can’t envision either one sustaining his
speed.