Mr. Prospector

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s Mr. Prospector H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park should be a terrific
betting race as a case can be made for every horse in the six-furlong test.
We’re going to go with Canadian Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner WANDO
(Langfuhr) to pull off the upset. The five-year-old, who has three wins and one
second in four starts at this distance, exits an easy three-length score in a
seven-furlong stakes at Woodbine, and is listed at 12-1 on the morning line. The
Michael Keough trainee classes up well with this group and could prove best in
the lane at juicy odds beneath regular rider Patrick Husbands.

Gotham S. (G3) winner SARATOGA COUNTY (Valid Expectations) spent much of last
year finishing on the fringes, but really put it all together in his last start,
stalking a contested pace before drawing off to a 5 1/4-length victory going
seven furlongs on the closing day of the Churchill Downs fall meet. Since then,
the George
Weaver trainee has fired a pair of five-furlong bullets at Palm Meadows.
Saratoga County should appreciate all the speed present and gets reunited with Javier Castellano.
He should offer good value at 8-1 on the morning line.

LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) was a consistent overachiever last year, finishing
third in the Blue Grass S. (G1) and a gritty fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1),
before he suffered an injury in the June 12 Ohio Derby (G2). The Todd Pletcher
trainee won the Hutcheson S. (G2) in his only start at this track and is a Grade
3 winner at this distance. He gets reunited with John Velazquez, who was aboard
for the Hutcheson, and is tactically drawn near the outside.

THUNDER TOUCH (Gulch) comes off two sharp sprint victories, including a
daylight score in the six-furlong Fall Highweight H. (G3). The Kiaran
McLaughlin-trained chestnut has a solid late punch and drops 11 pounds off the
Fall Highweight. He should be given serious consideration at square odds under
Jerry Bailey. The speedy STRENGTH AND HONOR (Carson City) dueled early before
proving best in the 6 1/2-furlong Distorted Humor H. at Churchill Downs in his
last start. The Charles Simon trainee has posted three sizzling works since then
and rates our sleeper on the rail.

The highly regarded SHAKE YOU DOWN (Montbrook), a Grade 2
winner who could defend his title in the Sunshine Millions Sprint S. on January
29, crushed lesser going five furlongs in his most recent outing at Pimlico. The
Scott Lake trainee is stuck down near the rail and could be vulnerable in this
spot. Vosburgh S. (G1) runner-up VOODOO (Petionville) figures to attend the
early going and has some upset potential. He could fill out the exotics.

Hutcheson runner-up DEPUTY STORM (Forestry) returned to action with a
front-running score at Churchill Downs. The Ralph Nicks-trained colt figures to
get sent for the early lead from the outside and could prove hard to catch under
Pat Day. He rates our longshot special. ALL HAIL STORMY (Stormy Atlantic) exits a
front-running score in the 5 1/2-furlong Mint S. at Calder. The Allen Jerkens
trainee will likely force the early issue and can’t be totally ignored. CHOOSE
(Arch), yet another speedball, has four wins in six starts and could surprise.