Pan American

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of eight is set to go in Saturday’s Pan American H. (G2) at
Gulfstream Park, and NAVESINK RIVER (Unbridled) appears ready to add a first
graded score to his record. The Todd Pletcher-trained four-year-old only owns
two wins, and one of those came when he broke his maiden last summer, but the
bay has spent much of the time since his maiden victory competing against black-type
competition. He usually finished close in those starts and made his 2005 debut a
neck second in the Mac Diarmida H. (G3). Navesink River earned a century-topping
110 BRIS Speed rating for that front-running effort, then returned in early
March to finish fourth, just three parts of a length back, in the Gulfstream
Park Breeders’ Cup H. (G1). He brings excellent form into this 1 1/2-mile turf
test and could find himself getting his picture taken in the winner’s circle
with John Velazquez in the saddle.

QUEST STAR (Broad Brush) finished 10th in the Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup
last out, but probably needed that one as it was his six-year-old bow. The
Elliott Walden trainee is the defending champion from last year’s Pan American
and posted a 103 BRIS E2 Pace figure for his last run. The dark bay has plenty
of experience winning on both the turf and at the distance, and will be tough as
he goes for the repeat win. Jockey Edgar Prado has the call.

GIGLI (Brz) (Clackson) didn’t do so well in the Mac Diarmida in his first
race back this year, but the Bobby Frankel charge quickly proved that was just a
fluke with a nose runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup previously. He
came from far back to just miss at the wire, and the extra furlong here might be
what the seven-year-old needs to earn that coveted first U.S. stakes win. Gigli
owns the numbers and connections (Frankel/Jerry Bailey) to get the job done
here.

SCOOTER ROACH (Mi Cielo) will get blinkers added to help his chances and the
six-year-old gelding could challenge for the top prize. Trained by David Kassen,
the bay has earned nothing but triple-digit Speed ratings from his past five
turf races and finished fifth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths, in the Canadian Turf
H. last out. He could threaten in the top three under Cornelio Velasquez.

DEPUTY LAD (Mecke) doesn’t own the same numbers as others in here, but he
will be making his third start off the claim for trainer Mike Mitchell, who has
been winning at a pretty good clip of late. The bay five-year-old is a versatile
type in regards to his running style, and could surprise from off the pace or
steal it on the front end. EUROPEAN (Great Commotion) could use the extra ground
here to improve on his past two races, both third-place finishes over the
course. Consider the chestnut for the exotics.

ART VARIETY (Brz) (Pleasant Variety) finished well back in his 2005 bow last
out, the Canadian Turf, but may have needed that race off the layoff. However,
the bay seven-year-old still doesn’t look fast enough to challenge against
these. STAGE CALL (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) will be making his first start for
trainer Jonathan Sheppard here, but is coming off a more than five-month long
break and might need a race.