Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A sharp field of 10 will go postward in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf
Classic S. (G1) over the Churchill Downs turf on Saturday, the penultimate event
to the Kentucky Derby (G1). This nine-furlong grass test drew several
accomplished runners, including defending champ and multiple Grade 1 hero
EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck), and it’s hard to go against him. Trained by Helen
Pitts, the ultra-talented dark bay was last seen cruising home a convincing
winner of the Santa Anita H. (G1) and has trained well in advance of this
engagement. Julien Leparoux will be atop the seven-year-old.

We’ve always been big fans of dual Grade 1 hero ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire)
(Danehill) from the barn of Neil Drysdale. The eight-year-old bay has been
placed in some difficult spots this year but could be ready for a huge
performance in his fourth start of the year as he seems well placed. The
ridgling will break from the rail under Alan Garcia.

Group 1 winner ZAMBEZI SUN (GB) (Dansili [GB]) has yet to live up to the
lofty expectations since he arrived in Bobby Frankel’s barn, but we fully expect
this bay to run a big one in this difficult assignment. The classy five-year-old
was headstrong in his U.S. grass debut, but we envision seeing a much
more relaxed customer on this day beneath Garrett Gomez.

Grade 1 conqueror COURT VISION (Gulch) has excuses for his last two defeats;
he moved too early in the Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1) and didn’t have ample
pace to run at in the Santa Anita H. (G1), so we find him an interesting option
in here at what should be a square price. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old
has a big turn of foot when he’s on, and he’s won over firm and good turf, so we
think he has a chance under Ramon Dominguez. The colt will be taking blinkers
off for this test.

Multiple Grade 1-placed COWBOY CAL (Giant’s Causeway) streaked to tallies in
the Strub S. (G2) and San Pasqual H. (G2) in California this winter and has been
freshened since an eighth-place result in the Big ‘Cap for Todd
Pletcher. The four-year-old colt is a fine turf runner with excellent tactical
speed, and he’s proven at the nine-furlong distance. We consider the
Kentucky-bred a big threat if the pace is slow.

FURTHEST LAND (Smart Strike) has turned out to be among the better claims of
late for Mike Maker, winning four of five after being snagged for $35,000. The
in-form gelding is taking a big step up in class but might be able to sneak into
the superfecta if one or more of the top ones falter. PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) bagged the
Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) last out for Bobby Frankel
in his 2009 debut, which happened to be the second straight Grade 2 win for the
six-year-old. The dark bay let us down a few times last year at this level, so
we’re going to be spiteful and leave him off of our tickets.

YATE’S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) has four wins from nine tries over this
course, mostly against lesser foes, and he finished fourth in this contest last
year. We will play against the six-year-old. Speed merchant and Grade 1 winner THORN SONG (Unbridled’s Song) drew widest
of all and will surely have company on the front end, so we don’t fancy his
chances for Dale Romans. EL CABALLO (El Corredor) almost pulled off a big upset in the Muniz
at Fair Grounds last out for Ralph Nicks, and the peaking
five-year-old has posted solid BRIS Speed numbers of 104 and 102 in his last
pair. The five-year-old is likely to face more pressure early than he did last
out, and he’d have to run the race of his life to beat this grizzled bunch.