Bandini, Noble Causeway will contest Skip Away

Bandini stamped himself as a major Derby contender last year with a dominating six-length win in the Blue Grass (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus) and NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant’s Causeway), who were
among the leading Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders 12 months ago, will attempt to
reinvigorate their racing careers in Saturday’s $100,000
Skip Away H. (G3). One
of six stakes on the undercard of the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), the
nine-furlong Skip Away will be the second start back for Blue Grass S. (G1) hero Bandini, who opened his four-year-old campaign with sharp 3 3/4-length win over
allowance/optional claiming rivals. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt underwent
surgery and missed the rest of his sophomore year after finishing 19th in the
Kentucky Derby as the 6-1 third choice.

Noble Causeway is still seeking his
first stakes victory, but he grabbed runner-up honors in the Florida Derby and exits a commendable performance over the track this year, winning a 1
1/8-mile allowance/optional claiming event by 1 1/4 lengths. A $1.15 million
yearling purchase, the Nick Zito runner went to the sidelines in early August
and will make his third start off the layoff on Saturday.

Multiple stakes winner WHOS CRYING NOW (Concerto), who finished second to
Lava Man (Slew City Slew) in the Sunshine Millions Classic earlier this year,
and Gulfstream Park H. (G2) runner-up CONTANTE (Arg) (Interprete) are also set
for the Skip Away. Rounding out the eight-horse field is WE CAN SEEK (Chi)
(Seeker’s Reward), O’CONNELL’S (Brz) (Jules), NETWORK (Pulpit) and ZOFFINGER
(Unbridled).