Alysheba

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday’s $150,000 Alysheba S. (G3) attracted a well-matched field of 10. We’re
taking a shot with BULLSBAY (Tiznow), who is perfect from two tries over the
Churchill Downs strip for Graham Motion. The much-improved five-year-old has really moved up
since transferring to the dirt last fall, and we loved his runner-up showing
in the Hal’s Hope H. (G3) in early January. If the Kentucky-bred stays close early
under Jeremy Rose, we think he’ll be too tough to fend off late in this 1
1/16-mile affair.

Grade 2 star COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft) exits a game runner-up effort in the
Excelsior H. (G3) at Aqueduct and has posted a pair of nice drills over this
surface since for Nick Zito. The four-year-old colt could be the speed of the
race, and we like his chances to hang on for a big share, maybe even win, under
John Velazquez.

The six-year-old DR. PLEASURE (Thunder Gulch) never quite lived up to the
lofty goals set for him as a youngster, but the Kentucky-bred is a solid racehorse who is capable of upending this group for trainer John Ward. The bay has
taken both of his starts this campaign, each at Gulfstream Park, and he drilled
a five-furlong bullet in preparation for this. We give the horse a
top-three chance under Edgar Prado.

READY SET (Touch Gold), winner of the 2008 West Virginia Derby (G3), is
much improved from this time last season for Michael Matz. Unraced since
November, the steady colt seemingly always shows up and puts in a run, so he’s
another with a chance. Julien Leparoux will guide the four-year-old.

New Orleans H. (G2) upsetter MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) beat a nice field at
Fair Grounds last out for Dallas Stewart and looks to be rounding back into good
form in advance of this. The four-year-old colt has some tactical speed and
should save ground with his rail post, and an off-track may move him up some in
this one. Since we think most of these have a shot for the win, we’ll throw him in
our exotics.

MAMBO IN SEATTLE (Kingmambo) was a near-miss second in the Travers S. (G1)
last summer but hasn’t been the same since for Neil Howard. The bay is winless in his
last five starts overall, including three out of four off the board, but he has
three wins and a second in four tries at Churchill and must be given some
respect here.

STAR GUITAR (Quiet American) has won six times from eight starts for Albert
Stall Jr., and comes in off his lone unplaced finish to date in the
New Orleans H. The gritty Cajun-bred could be a big overlay in this one, and we
expect a major turn-around against this field.

SHIFT IN POWER (Monarchos) is three-for-three over this oval, the last pair
against claiming foes, and has won four of his last five overall. The gelding will need improvement from his prior Churchill
efforts to win this stakes debut, though, and we’ll probably just keep him in the exotics.

The inconsistent PROM SHOES (Include) is simply too erratic for us to tout in
here, but the best showing by the five-year-old gives him a chance at a big
payday. INFORMED (Tiznow) has done all of his best work on synthetic
ovals and must negotiate the quick turn around from Dubai in March — from the
widest post.