Sword Dancer Invit.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Nine top turf runners have been entered to go 1 1/2 miles on Saturday in the
Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) at Saratoga, even though the race will take
place on the same day as another major turf test, the Arlington Million (G1).
Although nine have been entered here, there could be a defection to the
Arlington Million. Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man)
captured the United Nations (G1) last out and could easily go as the favorite in
the Sword Dancer, but trainer H. Graham Motion has indicated the six-year-old
gelding is instead likely to start at Arlington Park due to the extremely hard
surface at Saratoga.

With this in mind, we’re going to pick METEOR STORM (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]) to
get back to his winning ways here. The Wally Dollase charge was a hit last year,
winning the San Luis Rey H. (G2), San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) and
Manhattan H. (G1) consecutively. However, he finished off the board in his final
start of the year, the United Nations, and wasn’t seen again until a close
fourth in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1). In his most recent race, the bay
six-year-old raced five wide and lost both front shoes in the Manhattan H. (G1).
He still ran only 3 3/4 lengths back of the winner while in seventh and has
worked well in the interim, getting five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at Saratoga on
Monday. Meteor Storm can return to his form from last year at anytime, so
Saturday offers a good opportunity to get a good price on him. Javier Castellano
will be aboard for the first time.

VANGELIS (Highest Honor [Fr]) is still looking for his first U.S. win, but
the Bobby Frankel trainee has been close in most of his seven starts stateside.
He tried last year’s Arlington Million, where he ran fifth, and has since placed
in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1), Jim Murray Memorial
H. (G3), Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) and Arlington H. (G3). The gray
six-year-old earned a 108 BRIS Late Pace figure for his Arlington placing and
was a Group 2 winner in France last year. He could finally earn that elusive
first U.S. score here under Ramon Dominguez.

RELAXED GESTURE (Ire) (Indian Ridge) is another foreign runner who now makes
his home in the United States. Trained by Christophe Clement, the chestnut
already has two wins, coming in allowances at Keeneland and Belmont in
his first two starts this year. He was just a half-length back in second in the
Manhattan, earning a nice 102 BRIS Speed rating, prior to a head second in the
Bowling Green H. (G2), where he posted a whopping 127 Late Pace figure.
The four-year-old also heads this field in terms of BRIS Prime Power (179.4) and
could add another win to his resume under Jose Santos.

REQUEST FOR PAROLE (Judge T C) recorded his last win in the United Nations
last year and most recently ran third, 1 1/4 lengths back, while trying to
defend his title in that 1 3/8-mile event. The six-year-old has experience over
the turf, finishing a close second in this event last season, and will be making
only his third start off the layoff here, the same conditions in which he ran
last year. Request for Parole has the talent to take this one for trainer
Stanley Hough and jockey Eibar Coa.

KING’S DRAMA (Ire) (King’s Theatre [Ire]) will also be going for Frankel in
this spot and is the likely pacesetter. The bay gelding has earned nothing but
triple-digit Speed ratings since coming to the United States and scored an easy
six-length optional-claimer win in his last one. King’s Drama could be
impossible to run down if he gets away with an uncontested lead here. Jorge
Chavez has the call. SILVERFOOT (With Approval) was a close second in the United
Nations in his most recent race after taking his other two 2005 starts, an
allowance and defending his title in the Louisville H. (G3). The gray
five-year-old owns the numbers to challenge here so consider for the exotics.

DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet) has been earning some century-topping Late Pace
numbers in his past four starts, but has yet to score this year from two starts.
He could definitely show improvement in this one so consider for the bottom of
the gimmicks. ROCHESTER (Green Dancer) looks out of his class in this spot so
we’ll let him beat us.