To Honor and Serve one to fear in Pennsylvania Derby

To Honor and Serve seeks his first stakes triumph since the Remsen last November (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) A Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender or two could emerge from Saturday’s $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2), a 1 1/8-mile test at Parx Racing nicely situated six weeks out from the $5 million bonanza at Churchill Downs on November 5. A field of nine colts and geldings were entered, including Belmont S. (G1) hero RULER ON ICE (Roman Ruler), who was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Despite being pegged the early choice, there’s a good chance Ruler on Ice will take a backseat in the wagering to TO HONOR AND SERVE (Bernardini) at post time. The Bill Mott trainee was a wintertime favorite for the spring classics, but saw his aspirations unfulfilled after two modest showings in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). Third in both Gulfstream engagements, he emerged from the latter with a suspensory injury that sidelined him for nearly five months. Returning in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam S. (G2) on August 1, To Honor and Serve was a tad fresh that afternoon and dueled himself into submission, weakening to sixth. He was far stronger last time in a third-level allowance going nine furlongs, pressing a quick pace and drawing off to beat older rivals by 8 1/4 lengths the day before the Travers S. (G1). Though playing catch-up in the divisional race, To Honor and Serve could return to a place in the pecking order with a strong showing Saturday. Jose Lezcano will take over riding duties on To Honor and Serve.

John Velazquez, who had been aboard To Honor and Serve for his major wins
last season and in the allowance romp, sides with RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE (Tapit) in
the Pennsylvania Derby. Winner of the Long Branch S. at Monmouth two back, the
gray was silver medalist to both of Todd Pletcher’s three-year-old stars in
different races this year. A distant second to Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) in the
Timely Writer S. in only his second lifetime start, Rattlesnake Bridge
progressed enough through the summer by Travers Day to where he proved second
best against Stay Thirsty (Bernardini).

Two other Travers starters are in the lineup. Ruler on Ice was a flat fourth,
four lengths behind Stay Thirsty, after 1 1/4 miles. It was the gelding’s second
setback since his 24-1 surprise in the Belmont, the other being his third in the
Haskell Invitational (G1) in late July. The multiple stakes-placed J W BLUE (Sky
Mesa), running for the first time in four races without blinkers, rallied to
crash the Travers trifecta at 32-1, but the deep closer again figures to offer
one of the higher prices on the tote.

The controlling speed in the Pennsylvania Derby is RUSH NOW (Tiznow), who
nearly ran off with the West Virginia Derby (G2) last time before Prayer for
Relief (Jump Start) kicked on late to deny him by a half-length. A stablemate of
J W Blue in the Tony Dutrow barn, Rush Now might prove dangerous if not kept
honest.

Darley’s ARTHUR’S TALE (Bernardini) makes his return Saturday from an
injury-enforced layoff. Narrowly beaten by a neck in the Wood Memorial S. (G1)
in his most recent outing, he emerged from that Aqueduct test with a popped
splint that kept him out of the Kentucky Derby (G1). Of sounder body this season
has been PENDER HARBOUR (Philanthropist), gutsy winner of the final two legs of
the Canadian Triple Crown. Third to the filly in Inglorious (Hennessy) in the
series’ first leg, the Queen’s Plate contested on Polytrack, Pender Harbour came
back to take the Prince of Wales on dirt and the Breeders’ on turf by a nose
each time.

The Derby field is rounded out by Gotham S. (G3) runner-up NORMAN ASBJORNSON
(Real Quiet), who ran fourth in the Wood Memorial and 11th in the Preakness S.
(G1) before taking a recent Parx allowance, and the overmatched ISN’T HE PERFECT
(Pleasantly Perfect), who remains eligible for a first-level allowance after 16
career starts.

A field of seven three-year-olds will dash six furlongs in the $250,000
Gallant Bob H., a race that honors the 1975 champion sprinter. The likely
favorite is the toast of South Florida, INDIANO (Indian Charlie), who’s reeled
off three wins this summer over the Calder strip, including the Carry Back S.
(G2). Another expected to attract serious play is the Grade 1-placed WINE POLICE
(Speightstown), who ran third in the Amsterdam two back before garnering top
honors in the Distorted Humor S. at Saratoga on September 2.

POSEIDON’S WARRIOR (Speightstown), a swift stakes winner at Penn National in
late July, could bounce back from a sixth-place effort in the King’s Bishop S.
(G1). The rest, including the streaking West Virginia allowance type HE’S
SPEIGHTFUL (Speightstown), have form to find to upset the two favorites.