Iroquois

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Thirteen juveniles will square off in Saturday’s $150,000 Iroquois S. (G3)
under the Twin Spires and the one-mile event appears extremely contentious.

HIGH COTTON (Dixie Union) will make his second stakes attempt following a
sixth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, but we’ll excuse that effort
and look for a much better showing at Churchill. A sharp maiden winner at
Belmont Park two starts back, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt didn’t break well
last time and got pinched entering the backstretch, forcing him far back
off the pace and basically eliminating any chance over the ridiculously
speed-favoring Keeneland track. High Cotton checked in sixth, gaining valuable
seasoning, and he’s worked well twice at Churchill since then. Javier Castellano
picks up the mount and will be able to save ground from an inside post before
rallying.

CATCOMINATCHA (Tale of the Cat) appeared to have class concerns entering the
Breeders’ Futurity, but the chestnut colt closed well to finish a clear second
and may challenge for it all here. Rafael Bejarano rides for trainer Eddie
Kenneally, and Catcominatcha owns the tactical speed to sit a perfect trip
before pouncing. We’ll have to use the improving colt on our tickets.

LAITY (Pulpit) romped by 11 3/4 lengths in the Cradle S. two starts back and
was flattered when the runner-up returned to win the Breeders’ Futurity, but he
didn’t run well himself at Keeneland, finishing fifth as the favorite. We’re
willing to overlook nearly any race over the Lexington, Kentucky, oval and
expect the Frank Brothers-conditioned youngster to bounce back strong. Laity
is well-drawn in post 9 with Corey Lanerie, who will be able to position the
speedy colt just off the pace to his inside, and we’ll look for the bay colt to
be challenging for it all when the field hits the top of the stretch.

GRAND SURVIVAL (Grand Slam) faltered as the favorite in the
Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G2) last time, but he apparently bled and will
add Lasix for trainer Patrick Biancone. The $1 million juvenile purchase looked
very good winning his first career start at Saratoga two races back, earning a
106 BRIS E2 Pace figure, and Grand Survival is a candidate to offer a formidable late
run here. He’ll probably be overlooked off his last start and is our dark horse
special.

RIGHT PLACE N TIME (Coronado’s Quest) made his career bow in impressive
fashion at Keeneland, wiring maiden special weight rivals by 10 lengths on the
front end and earning a 99 Speed rating. He probably won’t offer much value in his first
attempt against stakes foes. A $220,000 two-year-old in training purchase, the
Steve Asmussen trainee looks extremely promising and is a threat to carry his
form forward, but he did take advantage of conveyor belt-like speed bias at
Keeneland and will be tested from the start on Saturday. We respect his chances
but will let him beat us.

FLANDERS FIELDS (A.P. Indy) was another good-looking maiden winner last out,
taking a one-mile Belmont event by 6 1/2 lengths, and the well-bred colt brings
jockey Jerry Bailey with him for his first stakes attempt. His connections
entered him to the October 1 Champagne S. (G1) before scratching, and Flanders
Fields hasn’t started in 56 days. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him develop
into a top three-year-old, but the bay colt faces a difficult challenge here.
MR. PINSTRIPE (Yankee Victor) reeled off maiden and allowance victories at
Arlington before finishing a decent fourth in his stakes bow, the
Arlington-Washington Futurity, and the Steve Hobby trainee is eligible to
improve off his last race. The dark bay colt has displayed a nice turn of foot
on the far turn in all four of his career starts and should be making up ground
from off the pace under Brice Blanc on Saturday. He merits consideration for
part.

RED RAYMOND (Deputy Commander), winner of the James C. Ellis Juvenile S. two
starts back, has been training well at Churchill for Bob Holthus and could
surprise us, but we’ll watch to see how he fares at this level. SHARP ATTACK
(Storm Cat) brings respectable form into this event for trainer D. Wayne Lukas
and will likely show speed, but he might face too much pressure up front.
TESTIMONY (Yes It’s True) cost $900,000 at auction earlier this year and
recorded a 7 1/2-length maiden score last time over the slop at Belmont, but
we’ll give him a race against winners.

CHARLEY TANGO (Maria’s Mon) turned in three solid performances at Arlington
before faltering in the Breeders’ Futurity, but we wonder if he’s fast enough to
factor here. BRASSIE PRINCE (Storm and a Half) is two-for-two in his brief
career, including a stakes win at Louisiana Downs last out, but he’s facing a
serious class test. MONDAVI (Maria’s Mon) has never earned a Speed rating better
than 78 and looks difficult to recommend here.