Excelsior BC

A strong field of nine is prepared to line up Saturday for the $200,000
Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) over Aqueduct’s main track.

LIQUOR CABINET (Ire) (Hennessy) has the hot hand right now, coming off a
close second in the Stymie H. The five-year-old Mark Hennig trainee improved significantly once transferring to the inner track at the Big
A this winter, earning BRIS Speed figures of 101, 104 and 108 in his last three,
respectively, and should keep things going here. The rail is always good at
Aqueduct and his chances appear enhanced by the lack of early speed in this 1 1/8-mile affair. Hot
jockey Eibar Coa, an 11-time winner in the past seven days, has the call.

WEST VIRGINIA (Tomorrows Cat) didn’t take to the slop at Gulfstream Park in
the Donn H. (G1) last out, but returns to a track in which he has had success in
the past (4-2-1-1). Although winless since last August, the five-year-old came a
neck shy twice late last year — in the Stuyvesant H. (G3) and then again in the
Queens County H. (G3). The Todd Pletcher-conditioned dark bay has hit the board
six of nine attempts at nine furlongs and will have Norberto Arroyo Jr. aboard.

EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) has annexed five of seven over the
main track, but the eight-year-old veteran has stalled coming out of the
gate in his last three, forcing the gelding to make up too much ground nearing
the wire. A lack of a fast pace could hinder the Pat Kelly trainee, leaving him too much ground to make up here, but we will use for the exotics. Jose
Santos has the call.

Laurel Park invader YOUR BLUFFING (Pine Bluff) had a five-race win skein
broken in his last outing when running a neck second in the Harrison E. Johnson
Memorial H. He comes off a short 14-day turnaround, but could still get up for
part.

INFINITE GLORY (Hennessy) has good early speed and could hang on for part if
he can overcome the outside post. Trainer Richard Dutrow has captured six races
in the past two weeks and the five-year-old gray has been putting together some
solid workouts lately.

Barclay Tagg hopes to get FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor) back to his winning
ways here. The six-year-old gelding didn’t have any success in Florida over the
winter and comes back to his home state. The
chestnut’s last victory came at Belmont Park in the 2004 Jockey Club Gold Cup S.
(G1), and he looks to improve in this one under jockey Richard Migliore.
WATCHMON (Maria’s Mon) has a chance to improve while returning to two turns on
Saturday and given a good break could wind up in the bottom of the gimmicks.

COLITA (Grindstone) exits a solid 4 1/2-length score against
allowance/optional-claiming company in February. Although he came home a good
fourth in the Aqueduct H. (G3) two back, the six-year-old could be overmatched
here. GO NOW (Go For Gin) has not had much success against similar competition
and we will bet against.