AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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BOWLING GREEN H. (G2), 9TH-BEL, $150,000, 3YO/UP, 1 3/8MT, 5:15 P.M. EDT, 9-11 |
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| 1 |
SIMMARD, 5, h, by Dixieland BandDibs, by Spectacular Bid O-Haras Santa Maria de Araras S A; B-Haras Santa Maria de Araras (Ky) |
| 2 |
GRAND COUTURIER (GB), 7, h, by Grand LodgeLady Elgar (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells O-Keller Marc; B-Tom Wilson (GB) |
| 3 |
AL KHALI, 4, c, by Medaglia D’OroMaya, by Capote O-Brous Stable Wachtel Stable; B-Hamilton Emory A. (Ky) |
| 4 |
STRIKE A DEAL, 6, h, by Smart StrikeShag, by Dixieland Band O-Santulli Richard; B-Bee Zee LLC (Ky) |
| 5 |
WINCHESTER, 5, h, by Theatrical (Ire)Rum Charger (Ire), by Spectrum O-Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone; B-Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone (Va) |
| 6 |
GABRIEL’S HILL, 6, h, by A.P. IndyLailani (GB), by Unfuwain O-Haras Cotacachi; B-Gainsborough Farm LLC (Ky) |
| 7 |
DRY MARTINI, 7, G, by Slew Gin FizzJon’s Kimberly, by Criminal Type O-Nyren Carol; B-Carol & Marty Hershe (Fl) |
| 8 |
SOUTHWEST, 5, h, by CozzeneSummer Delight, by Quiet American O-Hillwood Stable; B-Lazy Lane Farms Inc. (Va) |
| 9 |
INTERPATATION, 8, G, by LangfuhrIdealistic Cause, by *Habitony O-Mavorah Elliot; B-Larry Cassaday & Jack O. Thompson (Ky) |
| 10 |
FOLLOWMYFOOTSTEPS, 6, G, by Giant’s CausewayLady Carson, by Carson City O-Merriefield Farm; B-Schonefeld Kathleen Ann (Ky) |
| 11 |
JEUNE-TURC (BRZ), 6, h, by Know Heights (Ire)Creature Du Ciel, by Machiavellian O-Stud Tnt; B-Haras Fronteira P A P (Brz) |
Eleven horses have been entered to go 1 3/8 miles over Belmont Park’s inner turf in
Saturday’s $150,000 Bowling Green H. (G2) and we’re tabbing WINCHESTER
(Theatrical [Ire]) to come out on top. The bay horse has finished off-the-board
only once this season from five starts, with that coming as a close fourth in
the Pan American S. (G3). The Christophe Clement trainee posted his first win
of the year against allowance rivals at Keeneland, then returned to graded
company to score in the Manhattan H. (G1) by a half-length over reigning
champion turf and older horse Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat). Winchester put in a
stellar late run on the outside to just miss by two lengths when third in the
United Nations S. (G1) last out and could easily return to the winner’s circle
in this spot with jockey Cornelio Velasquez in the irons.
AL KHALI (Medaglia d’Oro) captured an allowance/optional claimer on Belmont’s
inner green prior to heading to the Saratoga meet for trainer Bill Mott. There,
the four-year-old bay tried to lead all the way home in the 1 1/2-mile Sword
Dancer Invitational S. (G1). He was caught in the stretch, winding up third, and
could relish the slight cutback here. The ridgling earned a nice 101 BRIS E2
Pace number for that effort and is a threat to wire this one under jockey Alan
Garcia.
INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) is still looking for a placing after four starts this
campaign. He nearly got there when fourth in the Sword Dancer last out, and the
three-time Grade 1-placed runner has the talent to threaten the exotics. The
Robert Barbara charge shocked at 43-1 in last year’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
Invitational S. (G1) and, while we don’t believe that will happen, here, he
could be a nice price to fill out the gimmicks.
Brazilian champion JEUNE-TURC
(Brz) (Know Heights [Ire]) ran next to last in the United Nations S. (G1) while
making his U.S. debut most recently, but earned a nice 103 BRIS Speed rating for
that effort in July. He’s had plenty of time to acclimate to his new
surroundings and could show much more here in his second start for new trainer
Paulo Lobo.
FOLLOWMYFOOTSTEPS (Giant’s Causeway) will be making his stateside stakes bow
in this spot following a pair of wins and thirds in four starts since shipping
to the United States. The lightly raced six-year-old competed once as a
juvenile, just three times as a sophomore, once as a four-year-old and once as a
five-year-old. Now that the bay gelding has some consistent form under his
girth, he could surprise in the top three under Rajiv Marah. STRIKE A DEAL
(Smart Strike) is an inconsistent sort who either surprises with a win or loses
pretty convincingly. Based on his past couple scores he’s actually cycling back
toward a winning effort and might be worth taking a chance on at a good price.
DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) has a shot in the top three if this race comes
off the turf, but the main-track specialist has never competed well on turf.
GABRIEL’S HILL (A.P. Indy) also hasn’t shown much in nine attempts on the green. SIMMARD (Dixieland Band) has been beaten pretty soundly when facing graded
rivals in the past and doesn’t look to reverse that form here. SOUTHWEST
(Cozzene) is exiting a win against claimers.
GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) captured this event by two lengths last
year, but trainer Robert Ribaudo has said he’ll scratch the bay seven-year-old
in favor of the September 19 Northern Dancer Turf S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine.