National Jockey Club

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $250,000 National Jockey Club H. (G3) features only five
participants and the weather figures to be terrible in Chicago. BADGE OF SILVER
(Silver Deputy) brings Jerry Bailey along to Hawthorne and should lead all the
way in the 1 1/8-mile event.

After wrapping up 2004 with a runner-up finish in the Cigar Mile H. (G1), the
Bobby Frankel-trained horse has come out stronger at five, recording wins in the
Hal’s Hope H. (G3) and New Orleans H. (G2) while earning BRIS Speed ratings of
112 and 108, respectively. He’s two for two at nine furlongs and the fastest
early runner in the mix, but Badge of Silver is also versatile enough to track
the pace and win.

LORD OF THE GAME (Saint Ballado) will be tested for class in his stakes bow
but does bring commendable Speed and BRIS Pace figures into this event. The unbeaten
colt debuted for a $10,000 maiden claiming tag on New Year’s Eve and was astutely
claimed out of the 22 3/4-length victory. Now five-for-five overall, the
four-year-old’s last three wins have come by a combined 25 lengths and netted
Speed ratings of 102, 106 and 103. Lord of the Game is four-for-four at
Hawthorne and appears ready to step up and tackle better company.

POLLARD’S VISION (Carson City) captured the Illinois Derby (G2) here in
wire-to-wire fashion last April but has been more of a stalker in every start
since, recording a pair of Grade 3 scores and several other respectable efforts
for trainer Todd Pletcher. The dark bay did disappoint a little when finishing
second as the chalk in his seasonal bow and was no factor when fourth in the New
Orleans last time, so Pollard’s Vision need to turn things around to challenge.
Perhaps the return to Hawthorne will help him.

FREEFOURINTERNET (Tabasco Cat) is another horse for the course, defeating
Perfect Drift (Dynaformer) when winning the Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) last
October. Trained by Michael Maker, the seven-year-old has been pretty dull in
three appearances this year, but he may just be rounding back into form. We’re
not thrilled with his one-run closing style, but Freefourinternet could come
charging for a top three placing given his affinity for the track.

SEEK GOLD (Touch Gold) finished a surprising second at 42-1 in the Clark H.
(G2) last November but has been no factor in stakes appearances this year. The
late-running gelding appears up against it in this spot.