Hanshin Cup J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Nine runners will square off over a one-turn mile in Saturday’s $100,000
Hanshin Cup H. (G3) at Arlington Park and a solid pace appears likely.
WILDEYDSOUTHERNBOY (Double Honor) is arguably the strongest closer in the
line-up, registering century-topping BRIS Late Pace ratings in all three starts
this season and a 105 for his 2 3/4-length score in the Zen S. at Arlington 12
months ago, and is our pick for a mild upset. The Hugh Robertson-trained gelding
loves the Polytrack, registering a six-for-seven mark locally, and appears set
for a top showing in his return to Arlington Heights, Illinois. The state-bred
has some class and distance concerns, but this is far from a difficult spot and
he is one-for-one at eight furlongs. We’ll look for him to run past his rivals
in the stretch.

GRAN ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) captured last year’s Washington Park H.
(G3) at Arlington and exits a four-length romp over the track in a May 6
allowance/optional event. Both wins came in wire-to-wire fashion, but the front
runner has won from just off the pace before and will likely revert to stalking
tactics with plenty of speed to his inside from post 7. Given his affinity for
the oval and back class, Gran Estreno is a logical win candidate in this spot at
short odds, but we still feel he may be a little more effective at two turns.
We’ll tab the likely favorite for second.

TYBALT (Storm Cat) owns back class, finishing a neck second in the 2009 Oak
Tree Mile (G2), but he’s been plagued by physical issues that forced him to race
sparingly over the last two seasons. The Michael Stidham trainee exits a
good-looking score at Fair Grounds, but he’s been sidelined for 91 days since
then. He does appear to be training well for his return and we considered
tabbing him for the win off the shelf, but the six-year-old has too many
questions and hasn’t raced around one turn in a long time. We’ll still use him
in the top three.

RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run) turned in a solid runner-up performance on turf when
making his 2010 bow last out, but he has limited experience over all-weather
tracks (2-0-0-1) and appears a little better at two-turn distances. The Grade 2
winner is an honest performer, recording a 2-1-1 mark in his last five attempts,
and we’ll include him in some exotics.

COUNTRY FLAVOR (Empire Maker) will be running late for Greg Geier and merits
some consideration for a minor award at long odds. A maiden scorer at
Arlington last August, the four-year-old’s last effort on turf is a throw
out. His BRIS Speed ratings earlier this season are commendable, but the gelding
will be facing a class test in his stakes debut. BROTHERS NICHOLAS (Smart
Strike) has run well at Arlington in the past, but he’s winless in five attempts
at a mile and doesn’t bring sharp form into this event.

VICTORY NOTION (Victory Gallop) will be running late, but he’s unplaced in
two previous attempts on all-weather tracks and can’t be recommended on the
class hike. MCLARD (Slew City Slew) and MAD FLATTER (Flatter) will break from
post 1 and 2, respectively, and the front runners figure to mix it up right from
the start. We can’t envision either sustaining their speed.