Whitney

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s prestigious $750,000 Whitney H. (G1) features a field of eight,
including a coupled entry from Hall of Fame inductee Nick Zito, and SAINT LIAM
(Saint Ballado) is clearly the one to beat. He dominated the Stephen Foster H.
(G1) last out by 2 3/4 lengths and easily won the Donn H. (G1) over last year’s
Whitney winner, Roses in May (Devil His Due) three starts ago. His lone setback
this season came when shipping to California for the 10-furlong Santa Anita H.
(G1) in March.

Saint Liam relishes the 1 1/8-mile distance, earning BRIS Speed ratings of
109, 117, 105 and 114 from his last four attempts at nine furlongs, and the bay
five-year-old has trained forwardly since the Foster 49 days ago. The classy
horse looks ready for another terrific performance on Saturday.

EUROSILVER (Unbridled’s Song) gives us the opportunity for a little value in
the exotics. Runner-up in the Stephen Foster, the nearly black colt has run
extremely well for conditioner Carl Nafzger in his last two starts over fast
tracks, winning the Skip Away H. (G3) three starts back. His lone poor recent
showing came over an extremely wet track in the Pimlico Special H. (G1) two
races ago, but he bounced back well off that effort and may continue to show
more on
Saturday. Eurosilver has earned strong Speed figures throughout his career and
is a winner over the Saratoga track. We’ll look for him to close from just off
the pace for second.

COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) is the wildcard. His only career loss came when
he stretched out to two turns for the 1 1/8-mile Hal’s Hope H. (G3), finishing
seventh, and the four-year-old gelding has been brilliant in six other starts in
one-turn events. He returned off a lengthy freshening to demolish optional
claiming/allowance rivals by 16 1/2 lengths last time at Belmont, turning seven
furlongs in 1:20 1/5, and Commentator has looked like a sprinter with his
sensational quickness. He’s bred to run long distances and Zito has stated that
he feels Commentator will handle a route of ground, but the chestnut hasn’t
shown it. He remains a wire-to-wire threat.

LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) turned in a couple of smashing efforts to win the
Brooklyn H. (G2) and Alysheba S. before shipping out west for a failed attempt
in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). The four-year-old colt is a candidate to show
much more here and one would be foolish to ignore Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez
at Saratoga, so we’ll use him in some exotics. Limehouse may prefer one-turn
routes at Belmont, but he figures to secure a perfect stalking position early
and could have a say in the final outcome.

POLLARD’S VISION (Carson City), who races uncoupled with stablemate Limehouse,
is very honest and has hit the board in four of his five races this year. He
shows a good mark (2-1-0-1) over the track, picks up Jerry Bailey in the saddle
and should appreciate the cutback in distance, but Pollard’s Vision usually
seeks lesser prizes. We’ll let him beat us at this level. WIGGINS (Cartwright)
should be forwardly placed but doesn’t look fast enough to run with Commentator
early. The Dale Romans trainee does enter off an encouraging win at Churchill
Downs, earning a 105 Speed rating, but the Illinois-bred takes a big step up in
class in this spot. However, his 3-1-2-0 mark at the distance is appealing and
Wiggins could possibly contend for a small share at long odds under Mark Guidry.

SWINGFORTHEFENCES (Boston Harbor) ran a big race when second in the
Westchester H. (G3) two starts back but faltered when fourth as the favorite in
the Tom Fool H. (G2) last time. He’s had more success at shorter distances and
will likely find this company too difficult. SIR SHACKLETON (Miswaki), who will
race coupled with Commentator for Zito, doesn’t bring encouraging form into this
event and may be better at middle distances.