New Orleans

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The $500,000 New Orleans H. (G2) drew 14 at Fair Grounds on Saturday, and
we’re looking for an upset. SLEW’S TIZNOW (Tiznow) ships in from the West for
Doug O’Neill in hopes of reversing his form on the dirt and there is reason to
believe that he will. The four-year-old was a dominant maiden winner on the main
oval at Saratoga as a freshman and followed with a runner-up showing in the
Breeders’ Futurity S. (G1). He’s a dual stakes winner in 2008 and has excuses
for his last pair of defeats, where he was hung wide. Rafael Bejarano rides our top pick.

Two lengths are what stand between STAR GUITAR (Quiet American) and a perfect
mark from seven races for Albert Stall Jr. The Louisiana-bred four-year-old has
raced exclusively against state-bred foes in his career but his last two races
may have been his best and we’ll use him to complete the exacta.

The Stall-trained
MY PAL CHARLIE (Indian Charlie) disappointed in a big way last out in the
Mineshaft H. (G3), but we’re willing to give the Grade 2 victor another chance
from the widest post. The four-year-old has enjoyed success at this venue and he
could receive a nice trip tracking the pace on the outside. John Velazquez will
guide the contender.

Louisiana H. victor GOOD AND LUCKY (Wild Rush) was a very good second in the
Mineshaft most recently and has run three solid races in succession over
this oval for Josie Carroll. The gelded six-year-old is tactical and always has
something late, so we’ll consider a most logical exotics threat.

Mineshaft star HONEST MAN (Unbridled’s Song) could be on the verge of becoming
one of the top handicap horses in the United States for Larry Jones, but we feel that he
will be grossly overbet in this one and we’ll take a chance with others. The
talented five-year-old is undoubtedly the horse to beat in here and his best
puts him in the winner’s circle, but he’s been a bit erratic in his career and
he’s faced several small fields, and we like the depth of this group. Gabriel Saez will pilot the favorite.

WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat) is the sleeper in here for Bobby Frankel. The
chestnut has excellent early speed and will likely be the early leader beneath
Victor Espinoza, so his fate depends on who goes with him and how swiftly they
travel early. The Empire State-bred would be no shock to win this, but the same
could be said of his chances of finishing in midpack.
MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) hasn’t been to the winner’s circle since bagging the Jim
Dandy S. (G2) last summer for Dallas Stewart, and we’re not sure if the colt can
win this due to his current lack of form. The gray is good enough to get into
the top three with a strong showing, but he’s another we’ll play
against.

John B. Campbell H. winner RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) has earned BRIS Late Pace
numbers of 112, 116 and 128 in his last three tries, but his lack of early speed
makes him hard to back in such a bulky field. The Richard Small trainee has
never been better and will love the trip, but we don’t expect him to pass 13
animals in the final stages of this one.
Sunshine Millions Classic winner IT’S A BIRD (Birdonthewire) has won three
black-type events since joining the Marty Wolfson barn and comes off a
career-best showing under today’s pilot, Julien Leparoux. We’re not confident
that the dark bay can take his show away from South Florida, but with that said,
we’ll still use him in some exotics.

SECRET GETAWAY (Skip Away) had no chance to rally into the dawdling pace in
the Mineshaft last out, but the solid late runner has a chance at a
top-three placing if he has a swift pace to run into. The Michael Stidham pupil has won at the distance and has shown an obvious affinity for this
racetrack, and we like his chances to get a piece under Kent Desormeaux.
We’ve always liked DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz), and we see no reason why the
gray can’t be in the mix late with something close to his best. The Grade 2
victor is one of many who would excel if a fast tempo should ensue, and he looks
playable under the guidance of Edgar Prado.

GOLDEN YANK (Yankee Gentleman) has strung together four solid races in
succession for Gary Thomas, but we’re not sure if this is the right spot for the
gelded four-year-old.
BROTHERS NICHOLAS (Smart Strike) was a useful third in the Mineshaft but has yet
to prove that he is capable of toppling a bunch of this quality. EL CABALLO (El
Corredor) is really coming along nicely for Ralph Nicks in recent starts, but
still has a ways to go to topple this deep field.