Bernard Baruch J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

It’s difficult to escape the conclusion that Friday’s $200,000 Bernard Baruch
H. (G2) at Saratoga revolves around the streaking JUSTENUFFHUMOR (Distorted
Humor). The Kiaran McLaughlin charge has literally done nothing wrong since
switching to the turf earlier this year, compiling a perfect five-for-five mark
on the surface. Justenuffhumor has been able to produce winning rallies whether
the pace is honest or slow, or the turf is firm or good, and he proved himself
at this level with an emphatic score in the Fourstardave H. (G2) last time out
at the Spa. The Darley Stable colorbearer has yet to race at 1 1/8 miles, but
given his running style, the extra half-furlong should pose no difficulty. Until
the half-brother to champion Dreaming of Anna (Rahy) fails, or unless
substantial evidence suggests that an upset is in the offing, we’re going to
stick with the win machine. Alan Garcia will be back aboard.

Since Justenuffhumor will offer no value as the 9-5 morning-line choice,
we’ll tab the 10-1 SETTE E MEZZO (Dynaformer) for the runner-up spot. The
well-bred four-year-old has been brought along steadily by Bill Mott, who must
have a fair bit of regard for him to select this spot for his stakes debut.
Sette E Mezzo is coming off a sharp allowance/optional claiming victory at
Saratoga, where he unleashed a 111 BRIS Late Pace figure to get up in time over
a stakes-quality field. The bay is proven on rain-softened ground, in case the
forecast rain hits early, and he posted a quick half-mile work in advance of
this test. Sette E Mezzo is an unknown quantity at this level, but his current
form and his esteemed connections suggest that he’s a live longshot with Kent
Desormeaux.

COWBOY CAL (Giant’s Causeway) warrants respect both by virtue of his class
and his potential to be lone speed beneath John Velazquez. In the right
circumstances, the Todd Pletcher trainee can be tough, as illustrated by his
narrow loss to the redoubtable Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) in the Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. In his two subsequent races,
though, Cowboy Cal has found himself harried on the lead and was softened up for
the stretch drive, winding up ninth in the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan H. (G1) and
third in the Fourstardave. We believe that the game four-year-old is at his best
on the turf when he has a target to track, a scenario that looks improbable
here. If Cowboy Cal gets the luxury of an easy lead, he can be in the mix late;
if he’s subjected to early pressure, he’s eligible to tire again. Either way,
we’ll keep him in the exotics.

If Godolphin’s COLONY (Ire) (Statue of Liberty) didn’t form part of an entry
with Justenuffhumor, he would have loomed as an attractive dark horse. He still
has upset claims, but we’re a little worried about being overexposed on a
short-priced entry. The winner of an English handicap on soft ground last year,
defeating Midships (Mizzen Mast) and an immature Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani) for
former trainer Sir Michael Stoute, Colony went on to add a valuable heritage
handicap to his resume at Royal Ascot. He showed little in Dubai this winter in
his first two starts for Saeed bin Suroor, but made an eye-catching U.S. debut
when third in the Double Feint S. at Belmont. Although Colony probably needs
longer than 1 1/8 miles, he should be rolling late for Rajiv Maragh, and it
wouldn’t be a total shock if he completes a Maktoum exacta.

SEASPEAK (Mizzen Mast) was unfortunate to lose a hard-fought victory over
Cowboy Cal via disqualification in last year’s Bryan Station S. (G3), and he
could force the issue with Cowboy Cal early. If the going remains firm or good,
Seaspeak is eligible to outperform his 8-1 odds. If the rain pours and renders
the course yielding, he doesn’t hold as much appeal. The Phil Gleaves-trained
MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat) was a solid second in the Fourstardave, and a repeat
of that effort would make him a threat once more. The gelding might prefer a bit
more early pace to set up his closing kick, however, and with the likes of
Cosmonaut (Lemon Drop Kid) and Kip Deville (Kipling) both running below par in
the Fourstardave, this race could end up being effectively deeper.

DEAL MAKING (Empire Maker) is an intriguing late runner, especially if the
rain holds off and he gets faster ground. An unlucky third in the 2008 National
Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) in his only prior Saratoga appearance, the
Graham Motion gelding exits a useful seasonal debut over the Tapeta at
Presque Isle. Deal Making would need to raise his game a lot, but he’s capable
of firing off lofty Late Pace figures.

The seven-year-old INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) has occasionally popped up and
run well against top-level company, but he hasn’t been a factor in his four
outings so far this campaign. YATE’S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe), who comes
off a victory over lesser stakes opponents at Mountaineer, doesn’t figure to
improve considerably over his 10th in last year’s Bernard Baruch. KUTAIS (Mayakovsky),
only sixth versus New York-breds in the West Point H., has chosen an ambitious
place for his first attempt in open company.