Stars and Stripes

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A compact field of six will travel 1 1/2 miles over the Arlington Park turf
in the $125,000 Stars and Stripes Turf H. (G3) on Monday. Grade 3 winner RUMOR
HAS IT (Awesome Again) drew the rail in here and is the lone horse in the field
with any type of early speed, so we’ll tab the eight-year-old for a wire-to-wire
score for David Hinsley. The gelded Kentucky-bred has won his last two,
including the local prep for this, and while he’s not as classy as many of
these, his tactical edge should go a long way in determining the outcome on this
day.

BRASS HAT (Prized) has impressed with solid late runs versus considerably
better for Buff Bradley. The Grade 1 victor has found a niche as a turf
marathoner as he’s run four solid races in succession at distances similar to
today’s. If the top one backs up late, which is obviously possible, the gelded
bay could be the one to capitalize.

Illinois-bred FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) is in excellent form this campaign,
never running worse than fourth in five 2009 appearances. The talented turf
horse has been generally an eight- or nine-furlong competitor for most of his
career and will hope to shine on the stretch out in trip for Chris Block. The
four-year-old chestnut had done well over this strip, and if the distance is not
an obstacle, he’s a live threat for a big payday.

The nine-year-old SILVERFOOT (With Approval) was a useful sixth, beaten just
2 1/2 lengths, in the Arlington H. (G3) last out and rates a chance for Dallas
Stewart. The hard-trying gray was a solid winner of this event in 2008 but
sports just a pair of wins in 16 attempts at this distance, and his lack of
early speed might leave him with too much to do late.

CABERNEIGH (E Dubai) hails from the sharp tom Proctor barn but has just three
wins from 21 career starts and would need a good deal of improvement to win
this. On the other hand, the four-year-old could move up considerably with the
added ground, and he’s not facing the most talented field ever assembled, so we
won’t throw him out under Junior Alvarado.

Marathoner GUADALCANAL (Graeme Hall) has never endured success at this level,
and while he’s a horse who’s proven to enjoy distances of this nature, we simply
don’t think he has the acceleration to win a race like this.