Pilgrim

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Ten two-year-old turf hopefuls will vie in Sunday’s $150,000 Pilgrim S. (G3)
on Belmont’s Widener turf. We think that this one is all about INTERACTIF (Broken
Vow), who romped by 4 1/4 lengths in the With Anticipation S. (G3) last out.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the talented colt was awesome in his turf debut and
drew much praise from his jockey, Kent Desormeaux, following his graded win. The
freshman simply looks better than his foes and should deliver on an expected
short price.

WESTERN FLYER (More Than Ready) showed vast improvement in his second
lifetime go for Kiaran McLaughlin after he dusted a maiden field at Monmouth
Park. The Kentucky-bred earned a strong 96 BRIS Speed number for his win and
gives the impression that there is much more to offer, and we think that he’s
the lone runner in this field who could give our top pick any trouble. Alan
Garcia has the assignment.

ESKENDEREYA (Giant’s Causeway) was a closing second in a useful maiden voyage
for Pletcher and is now thrown into stakes company, a move which we like
due to the connections. The chestnut colt has a top-three chance with even minor
improvement.

PADDY O’PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) was a fast-closing second in a maiden tilt two
prior, and checked in an even third in the With Anticipation most recently for
Dale
Romans. The gray colt doesn’t appear to be good enough to win this, but he could
rally for a minor award if the pace is swift. With Anticipation fourth DEAN’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy) will need something
more
than we’ve seen from him to this point in order to be a factor late on this
occasion.

BILLIONS BOY (Johannesburg) has finished first or second in all three
career tries for John Kimmel, but the juvenile will need to improve his Speed
figures in order to be around in the latter stages today. We’re always wary of trainer David Donk in spots like this, as he’s produced
some huge prices over the years in turf stakes, but we can’t rally around his New York-bred
SHRIMP DANCER (Kitten’s Joy) at this stage of his growth. BRICKLAYER (El Corredor) hasn’t shown us enough to consider backing against
these. MR. VEGAS (Freud) rolled home from far back to upend New York-bred foes
at first asking for Michael Hushion, but moving into open company while
stretching out to a route of ground seems like a lot to ask from the gelded
chestnut.

CHAIRMAN NOW (Tiznow) is entered for the dirt only, but we’re not sure we’d
endorse him on the main strip. He hasn’t looked all that impressive thus far for
conditioner Richard Violette.