Pilgrim

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Nine juvenile males, one of whom is entered for the main track only, will
line-up in the $150,000 Pilgrim S. (G3) at Belmont on Sunday. With Anticipation
S. (G3) romper SOLDAT (War Front) was most impressive in bagging his turf debut
last out for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin, and we think the colt will make it
two straight on this occasion. Second behind a pair of nice winners when
sprinting in his initial two outings,
the juvenile colt was switched to the lawn and he responded in a big way,
rolling home and earning a substantial 102 BRIS Late Pace figure in the process.
The dark bay should get a fine trip from the outside post under Alan Garcia, and
anything close to his last would make him very tough.

AIR SUPPORT (Smart Strike), fourth in the With Anticipation, is much better
than his last indicates and should improve a good amount in this graded test for
trainer Shug McGaughey. The May foal has some tactical speed and posted a
pair of solid morning maintenance breezes leading into this, so we’ll include
him in some multi-race wagers.

With Anticipation second POWHATAN COUNTY (Fusaichi Pegasus) ranks first in
BRIS Prime Power (147.6) and clearly has to be considered a major player in here for
conditioner George Weaver. The bay colt has never run a bad race on the weeds
and has improved his BRIS Speed numbers with every start, so we’ll use the
Kentucky-bred in all of our wagers with Javier Castellano in the irons.

New York-bred maiden romper DUAL CITIZEN (Proud Citizen) came home in a
pedestrian time in his recent win and we will look elsewhere. DECIPHIRING DREAMS (Freud),
who held Dual Citizen to second when breaking his maiden, was flattered when that
one came back to romp by 5 1/2 lengths in his subsequent start, but we’re
still not impressed by the Richard Dutrow charge.

Continental Mile S. and Chenery S. second THE FLYING WHIZZER (Spanish Steps)
doesn’t look like the type we’re interested in. FAVORITE HOUR (Tiznow) lacks the
Speed figures to challenge in here. LIONDRIVE (Lion Tamer) looks in deep.

Main-track entrant RUNNING TAP (Tapit) would be the one to beat if this one
comes off the lawn.