Philip H. Iselin BC H.

A field of 10 will line up for Sunday’s $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders’
Cup H. (G3) at Monmouth Park. PURGE (Pulpit) comes into the 1 1/8-mile event off
a 12-length score against optional-claiming company over this same track.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has put two of his last six in the winner’s circle,
has the four-year-old colt geared up for this one, clocking a four-furlong drill
in :48 4/5 on Monday. Purge has posted triple-digit BRIS E2 Pace ratings in his
last six outings. Given the fast pace, which should be set by CHEROKEE’S BOY (Citidancer)
and PRESIDENTIALAFFAIR (Not for Love), the speed should put him near the top at
the wire. Hot jockey Chris DeCarlo has the call.

Cherokee’s Boy is undefeated in two starts over the Oceanport, New Jersey,
track, the last coming in the Salvator Mile H. (G3). The Gary Capuano-conditioned five-year-old has an affinity for the Iselin distance, earning a
line of 6-3-2-0 at 1 1/8 miles. Cherokee’s Boy has been working bullets for
Capuano at Delaware Park and has earned BRIS Speed figures over the century mark
in five of his last six races.

Presidential Affair was jolted at the start of the Steven Foster H. (G1) and
wound up last of eight in that one. The Monmouth veteran (10-6-2-1) comes back
and figures to improve here, however. Trained by Martin Ciresa, the six-year-old
gelding finished a distant second in this competition last year to the dominant
Ghostzapper and comes off a two-month freshening from the Foster. Todd Glasser
will have piloting duties.

CUBA (Not for Love) has fantastic late speed and could play a factor if a
speed duel materializes in the early going. The Thomas Bush trainee hasn’t
missed the board since finishing fifth against allowance company last September.
The four-year-old has managed to hold his own against graded competition,
finishing in the top three in the Eclipse H. (Can-G3), Brooklyn H. (G2) (later
placed fifth through disqualification), and Seagram S. (Can-G3). Look for another
good finish in this one.

WEST VIRGINIA (Tomorrows Cat) comes off a close second in the Evan Shipman
H., earning a career-high 102 Speed figure for that one. Also trained by
Pletcher, the dark bay colt has been training forwardly for his conditioner and
could get up for part.

BILLY ALLEN (Ire) (Night Shift) is a proven winner in his homeland, but
weakened in his U.S. bow last time in the Washington Park H. (G2) and
finished fourth to Perfect Drift (Dynaformer). He faces vulnerable competition here and has a shot for the
board. GO NOW (Go for Gin) comes off a nose victory in an optional claiming
tune-up for this one. He has good finishing speed that could land him in the top
three late in the race.

COINTREAU (Hennessy) will be facing his toughest rivals yet. His experience
at Monmouth (7-4-1-1) might be enough to get him in the bottom of the gimmicks.
ZOFFINGER (Unbridled) came home third in the Iselin last year, but has not faced
stakes rivals since. We will bet against. ONE NICE CAT (Storm Cat) has good late
speed that could get him near the front at the wire, but has never been able to capitalize
at 1 1/8 miles.