The most compelling American-based turf juvenile of 2017, Analyze It, makes his seasonal reappearance in Friday’s $150,000 Transylvania (G3) on opening day at Keeneland. The 123-pound co-highweight is drawn on the far outside in post 12, while the other co-highweight, Maraud, is his opposite bookend in post 1.
Analyze It has won both of his starts by a combined margin of 10 1/2 lengths. After drubbing next-out winners Blockade and Fast Boat in a Belmont Park maiden, the Chad Brown trainee shipped to Del Mar and romped all over the useful Pubilius Syrus in the November 26 Cecil B. DeMille (G3). Pubilius Syrus has since won a pair of Santa Anita stakes, the Eddie Logan and Baffle. Although Analyze It was briefly under consideration for a dirt try, Brown preferred to keep the son of Point Entry on turf. Jose Ortiz has the return call.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Maraud, third in last fall’s Pilgrim (G3) and Pulpit, has come on of late at Gulfstream Park. The Blame colt cleared his entry-level allowance condition in January and scored his stakes breakthrough in the March 3 Palm Beach (G3). Maraud hopes that his better post and recency edge will help him against Analyze It.
No fewer than five entrants competed in the Bourbon (G3) here last October. Originally carded for the same course and 1 1/16-mile distance as the Transylvania, the Bourbon was rained off the turf, and the sloppy, sealed main track didn’t produce a clear-cut result. While the victorious Flameaway has graduated to the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail, the rest of the superfecta – Tap Daddy, Tigers Rule (demoted from second), and Admiralty Pier – is back to renew rivalry on turf. Captivating Moon, clearly not up to his best when seventh in the sloppy Bourbon, has had a productive winter at Tampa Bay Downs, where he chased highly regarded Gidu in the March 10 Columbia. Rounding out the Bourbon alumni is class-challenged King Valero.
Admiralty Pier, third in the Summer (G2) in his previous turf appearance, was last seen landing the Display over Woodbine’s Tapeta. Tigers Rule just made a winning return in a Fair Grounds turf allowance. Tap Daddy likewise competed in New Orleans last out. A distant third in Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones two back, Tap Daddy exits a fourth (elevated via disqualification) to Dragon Drew in the Black Gold. Dragon Drew, the latest promising prospect for Buff Bradley, dominated by four lengths that day. Also competing in the Black Gold was the luckless Golden Dragon, whose chart comment summarizes his various woes as “brutal trip.” Still, his previous unplaced efforts in graded stakes suggest he’s in deep waters here.
Determinant, the $550,000 son of Tapit and multiple Grade 3 queen Indescribable, is also listed as probable for Saturday’s Blue Grass (G2). Trained by Mark Casse, the John Oxley colorbearer broke his maiden in his third attempt, all on the Gulfstream turf. Calumet Farm’s Funny Duck likewise scored his first career win at Gulfstream after placing to emerging talent Hawkish.
Beer Pressure, like Admiralty Pier, has not raced since Woodbine last fall when finishing second in the restricted Kingarvie. The Loooch Racing Stables runner subsequently transferred from Nick Gonzalez to Michael Ewing, and he also adds blinkers for this turf debut.
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The Spring Meet kicks off with a 4 1/2-furlong dash for juveniles, and Wesley Ward’s duo is led by Onthewaytonevrland. The Ice Wine Stable homebred is from the first crop of past Ward star No Nay Never, who rolled in his Keeneland unveiling on the way to Royal Ascot glory in the Norfolk (G2) as well as the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville. Onthewaytonevrland is out of the Oasis Dream mare L’Ensorceleuse, an unraced half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning miler Charm Spirit. Ward’s other runner is Strike Play, a son of Haynesfield.
Ward sends out a pair in the 3RD race as well – a Congrats half-brother to Kentucky Oaks (G1) threat Midnight Bisou named Stage Left, and another No Nay Never, No Bang No Boom, in the 3RD race. That Ice Wine homebred was produced by Boom Boom Vroom, a Zensational half to Grade 3 vixen and multiple graded stakes producer Sindy with an S. The 3RD race features another high-profile freshman sire in Verrazano, represented by Todd Fincher firster Myhotrodlincoln.
