Hal’s Hope

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $100,000 Hal’s Hope H. (G3) brings together a well-matched field
of 13 and several top contenders are completely unproven at nine furlongs. PURGE
(Pulpit) turned in the two best performances of his career at the distance and
should offer good value in his four-year-old bow. We’ll look for him to prove
best from just off the pace.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Purge couldn’t have been more impressive winning
the Peter Pan S. (G2) by 6 3/4 lengths and the Jim Dandy S. (G2) by 4 1/2, both
wins coming at 1 1/8 miles and good for BRIS Speed ratings of 110 and 109,
respectively. Perhaps more importantly, there was plenty of early speed in both
contests, allowing Purge to relax and stalk, which is his most effective running
style. Things didn’t turn out well when he was all out for the early lead in the
Cigar Mile H. (G1), Travers S. (G1) and Belmont S. (G1), and Saturday’s
preponderance of early speed should allow him to easily sit and pounce. John
Velazquez rides the classy bay colt.

DYNEVER (Dynaformer) couldn’t have a more favorable pace scenario and may run
past all rivals through the stretch. The Christophe Clement charge, who ran well
over the old Gulfstream track (3-2-1-0), brings terrific Speed and Late Pace
numbers into the event and nine furlongs is his best distance (8-2-5-0). Dynever
will come up short often and may not be able to catch our top selection, but
we’d be surprised to see the classy five-year-old finish worse than second.

COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) has captured all five career starts by a
combined 42 1/4 lengths and will make his first start around two turns here for
trainer Nick Zito. He’s bred for longer distances and probably could run Grade 3
rivals into the ground at 1 1/8 miles with the right pace scenario, but there
will be no easy lead or soft early fractions for the four-year-old gelding in
this spot. The chestnut will still likely set the pace and could forget to stop,
but we’ll use him only on the bottom of the exotics.

BADGE OF SILVER (Silver Deputy) has been training forwardly at Palm Meadows
for trainer Bobby Frankel and exits a commendable performance in the Cigar Mile
in which he gamely out-nodded Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck) for the second.
The five-year-old looms as a serious win threat here if he can get the distance,
but he’s never been this far and ran terrible in his last attempt at 1 1/16
miles. The probable favorite remains a formidable presence given his strong
present form.

ADDED EDGE (Smart Strike) improved at the end of last year for conditioner
Dale Romans and has trained well in preparation for this
appearance. The chestnut does his best running on the front end and appears to
be getting better at longer distances. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him
hold for a small slice. COUNTRY JUDGE (Judge T C) will be tested for class but
does enter on the upswing for trainer Stanley Hough. The five-year-old likes the
distance (2-1-0-1) and owns a strong late kick. The race will set up well for
him and Country Judge is one to consider for the bottom of the gimmicks at long
odds.

DEPUTY LAD (Mecke) appears overmatched in this spot, but the one-run closer
is going very well right now off two straight wins and we can’t completely
dismiss his chances for part if he continues to improve. COLLATERAL DAMAGE
(Cobra King) also figures to be running late, but he drew a tough outside post
and is stepping up in class.

ALLEGED RULER (A.P. Indy) will likely flash speed from his far outside post
but may face too much pressure on the front end to have a say in the
final outcome. CONTANTE (Arg) (Interprete) will need to show us something in
this country before we recommend his chances. THE JUDGE SEZ WHO (Judge T C) owns
back class but turned in very dull efforts in his most recent starts. We can’t
recommend his chances. WAKE AT NOON (Cure the Blues) is a confirmed speedball
who is probably better at shorter distances. SMOOTH LOVER (Suave Prospect) is
all speed and only figures to compromise the front-runners before tiring.