Alfred G. Vanderbilt

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A fast field of seven will set out on Saturday to contest the $200,000 Alfred
G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) at Saratoga. The Allen Jerkens-trained SMOKUME (Smoke
Glacken) comes into this six-furlong event off two consecutive wins, the last in
the Tom Fool H. (G2) in the Belmont slop where he earned a 112 BRIS Speed
figure. His early-running style should prove beneficial as a majority of sprints
at Saratoga this week have been captured by those on or near the lead. The
four-year-old gelding has really fared well since Chantal Sutherland took the
reins four back, coming home first in three of those outings under the
29-year-old rider, and should be tough to beat.

KELLY’S LANDING (Patton) was a surprise in the Aristides Breeders’ Cup H.
(G3) at Churchill Downs, taking the six-furlong test in 1:07 2/5, breaking Kona
Gold’s record at the track by a quarter of a second. The four-year-old gelding
has a liking for the distance, producing a line of 4-3-1-0 at three-quarters-of-a-mile. Conditioner Eddie Kenneally has had the dark bay training forwardly for
this one and Kelly’s Landing has a good late kick which should put him in the
money. Mike Smith has the call.

POMEROY (Boundary) comes off a 6 1/2-length win over optional-claiming
foes last month at Monmouth. The Patrick Biancone trainee has placed in all
three starts over the Saratoga Springs, New York, main track. He is a threat from
just off the pace and will be ridden by hot jockey Eibar Coa.

I’M THE TIGER (Siphon [Brz]) will be making his second start for trainer
Bobby Frankel here. In his last outing, the five-year-old gelding pressed the early
pace and led briefly, but hit the wire three parts of a length back in second.
This will be his first start at Saratoga and the bay could surprise in the
end. 

BOTANICAL (Seeking the Gold) won easily against allowance company last out in
his U.S. debut. The Saeed bin Suroor trainee made a good transition from the
turf to the dirt four starts back, winning two and running third in two. The dark bay four-year-old is a good shot for the money and should be
taken in consideration for the exotics.

VOODOO (Petionville) is perfect in two starts at the Spa, but hasn’t made a
trip to the winner’s circle since annexing the Sport Page H. (G3) in October of
2003. However, the seven-year-old veteran looked impressive in the True North
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) two starts back and could grab part. PEEPING TOM (Eagle Eyed) exits a win
against allowance company, but has not put up the numbers to be a threat here.