Monmouth Cup

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $300,000 Monmouth Cup S. (G2) attracted a short but stout field of
six, including defending champion ETCHED (Forestry), who captured this race when
it was known as the Meadowlands Cup last year. Multiple Grade 2 winner MUSKET
MAN (Yonaguska) exits an excellent third in the Whitney H. (G1) at Saratoga, and
we’ll pick the four-year-old on top.

Conditioned by Derek Ryan, Musket Man placed in both the Kentucky Derby (G1)
and Preakness (G1) before heading to the sidelines for the rest of 2009. He
returned with a nice win at Tampa Bay Downs this winter and stepped up to face
graded rivals in his next four starts, finishing second by a nose in the Carter
H. (G1) prior to a third in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) and a second in the Met
Mile (G1). He received a whopping 111 BRIS Speed rating for the latter and then
stepped up to face an outstanding field in the Whitney.

The dark bay colt traveled wide on both turns in the Whitney, which wasn’t
the best part of the track that afternoon at Saratoga, but was still in the
thick of things at the top of the stretch. He fought hard all the way to the
wire, finishing only two lengths back of Blame (Arch), but missed a little
training time afterward. He returned to the worktab on Sunday at Monmouth Park,
registering a five-furlong bullet, and we expect him to be ready for his best in
this spot. Eibar Coa opts for the classy colt over DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme
Hall).

An excellent 2 1/4-length scorer in the Philip H. Iselin S. (G3) last out, Duke
of Mischief is our second choice. He was flattered when the Iselin runner-up,
Redding Colliery (Mineshaft), came right back to win the Hawthorne Gold Cup
(G2), and his recent BRIS Speed and Late Pace numbers are strong. The Oaklawn H.
(G2) hero will pick up the services of top local jock Paco Lopez, and Duke of
Mischief should be in position to offer a challenge turning for home.

After missing the first 8 1/2 months in 2010, Etched returned to the races
with a nice one-length score in the September 12 Formal Gold S. over the local
track. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee owns a winning attitude, capturing
six-of-eight career starts, but he’s battled injuries throughout his career and
will face a serious class check in this spot. We’ll still look for a good
effort, but we can’t recommend his chances for the win.

Florida Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up ICE BOX (Pulpit)
is better than he’s shown in his last three starts, but it’s difficult to get
excited about his chances here off those dull performances. The Nick Zito runner
does appear to be training forwardly in preparation, posting a four-furlong
bullet drill at Saratoga on Monday, and we won’t be shocked to see him offer a
decent late run for a minor award.

CHIRAC (Sligo Bay [Ire]) probably needed his last race off the year layoff
and will move up if the track is wet. He’s probably a little better at a mile or
8 1/2 furlongs, but we can’t dismiss his strong winning effort in the 2009
Iselin over a sloppy track. The Jane Cibelli pupil will be forwardly-placed with
Elvis Trujillo and is eligible to hold for a small share. DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin
Fizz) owns some back class, but he doesn’t look sharp enough to challenge here.