Lexington

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $325,000 Lexington S. (G2) is the final graded prep race for
three-year-olds before the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the connections of many of
the eight contestants would love to be in the starting gate two weeks later at
Churchill Downs. ROCKPORT HARBOR (Unbridled’s Song) is a very classy individual
and deserving favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington, but he’s battled multiple
problems over the last couple of months and could prove vulnerable at Keeneland.

COIN SILVER (Anees) is an up-and-coming colt in the Todd Pletcher shedrow who
could pull off an upset. His sire, Anees, was completely devoid of early speed,
winning the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) from the clouds, but Coin Silver
has shown good speed so far in his career, breaking his maiden two starts back
in front-running fashion before recording a decent third in a nine-furlong
allowance last out. The dark bay won’t be setting the pace in this spot given
all the early speed in the field, but he should be well-spotted in the early
going tracking the front runners from his inside post. Coin Silver recorded a
sharp five-furlong work at Keeneland in preparation for this start and will have
the services of the hot-riding Javier Castellano (23 percent win clip this
meet). His 102 BRIS Speed rating last time compares very favorably with his top rivals,
and we’ll tab the improving sophomore for the upset.

STORM SURGE (Storm Cat) shows a sharp set of works for this appearance and
owns the right running style to take advantage of a speed duel up front. Trainer
Dallas Stewart is enjoying a fine meet, and Storm Surge has run very well this
year, recording a Grade 3 win prior to third-place finishes in the Risen Star S.
(G3) and Louisiana Derby (G2). The honest dark bay must be considered for the
top three and could offer a challenge for it all.

Rockport Harbor is a very headstrong front runner who probably won’t want to
sit off other speed. The gray may be good enough to run away from all
challengers here, but he hasn’t been running this year and has been dogged by a
myriad of physical issues. This may be a good spot to go against at short odds.

SORT IT OUT (Out of Place) could pick up some pieces off a fast early pace.
The Bob Baffert trainee doesn’t come off the most encouraging performances,
finishing third in the WinStar Derby and eighth in the Louisiana Derby, but he
showed some class in February when winning the Whirlaway S. at Aqueduct and owns
a solid late kick. Consider for the bottom of the exotics.

FOREVER WILD (Jules) offered a decent run for second in the Tampa Bay Derby
(G3) last out, earning a 96 Speed rating, and trainer Joan Scott’s runners from
Tampa have been enjoying some success at Keeneland this meet. The improving bay
colt owns good tactical speed and has shown that he can finish, receiving a 112
BRIS Late Pace figure recently. GOING WILD (Golden Missile) will probably come out of
the gate running under Gary Stevens as all three of his career wins have come
wire to wire. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee ran terrible two weeks back in the Wood
Memorial (G1), being beaten by 41 lengths, and we can’t see him making the front
and sustaining his speed in this spot.

ACTXECUTIVE (Noactor) will probably show speed from the rail, but the
talented juvenile performer will need to show more around two turns before we
can endorse him in a spot like this. SKYE’N THUNDER (Thunder Gulch) could be a
decent one in the future, but the maiden winner owns lower Speed ratings and is
probably biting off too much in this spot.