TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
| KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB S.
(G2), 11TH-CD, $200,000, 2YO, 1 1/16M, 4:27 P.M. (EST), 11-25 |
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| PP | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | WT |
| 1 |
GOING BALLISTIC |
VON HEMEL DONNIE K |
BERRY M C |
122 |
| 2 |
STARBASE |
LUKAS D WAYNE |
BOREL C H |
122 |
| 3 |
TIZ WONDERFUL |
BLASI SCOTT |
VELAZQUEZ J R |
122 |
| 4 |
MR BLACKSTONE |
ROMANS DALE |
CASTRO E |
122 |
| 5 |
U D GHETTO |
REINSTEDLER ANTHONY |
CASTANON J L |
122 |
| 6 |
DOMINICAN |
MILLER DARRIN |
ALBARADO R J |
122 |
| 7 |
WHAT A TALE |
BIANCONE PATRICK L |
LEPAROUX JULIEN |
122 |
| 8 |
ANY GIVEN SATURDAY |
PLETCHER TODD A |
BEJARANO R |
122 |
| 9 |
JOE GOT EVEN |
SIMS PHILIP A |
BRIDGMOHAN S X |
122 |
The undefeated TIZ WONDERFUL (Tiznow) easily rates our top choice in
Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. The bay forced the
early issue before drawing off to a 12 1/2-length victory in his debut at
Saratoga, then dueled for the early lead before winning the one-mile Iroquois S.
(G3) by 6 3/4 lengths in 1:35 4/5 over this surface in late October. The Scott
Blasi trainee has yet to be really tested and could emerge from this 1 1/16-mile event as a
leading Triple Crown contender. Note that John Velazquez, who usually rides
first-call for trainer Todd Pletcher, has the mount.
The Patrick Biancone-trained WHAT A TALE (Tale of the Cat) broke his maiden
impressively against the bias on Polytrack at Keeneland, then rallied for
runner-up honors in the Iroquois. The dark bay is tactically drawn near the
outside for a stalk-and-pounce trip under Julien Leparoux and rates a contender.
Shipper GOING BALLISTIC (Lite the Fuse) is a seasoned route horse on both
dirt and turf and comes off a sharp 4 1/2-length score in the Remington Mile S.
A deep closer, the gray has excellent late speed and may add value in the
vertical exotics.
The Pletcher-trained ANY GIVEN SATURDAY (Distorted Humor), who will be ridden
by Rafael Bejarano, is undefeated in two career starts, both of which were on
Polytrack. The dark bay circled the field on the turn at Turfway Park, then did
basically the same thing in his two-turn debut at Keeneland. He must be
respected for a top-three placing. Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) winner U D
GHETTO (Honour and Glory) posed no threat in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) but
could earn a minor award with a return to form.
JOE GOT EVEN (Stephen Got Even) comes off back-to-back victories on Polytrack
and has the look of a useful off-the-pace sort. He will have to transfer his
form to the main track here, however. The speedy D. Wayne Lukas-trained STARBASE
(Tale of the Cat) attended the early running before holding on for third in the
Iroquois. He figures to go as far as he can on the front end.
DOMINICAN (El Corredor) broke his maiden on Polytrack at Keeneland, then
finished fourth against a good group of winners here last out. The Darrin
Miller-trained colt has some upset potential at large odds. MR BLACKSTONE (Sir
Cat) broke his maiden in his fifth start for a tag and would appear to be
overmatched.
| TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS: | 1st-TIZ WONDERFUL | |
| 2nd-WHAT A TALE | ||
| 3rd-GOING BALLISTIC | ||