Jamaica

Nine runners have been entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Jamaica H. (G2), but
only seven will start if the nine-furlong test remains on the inner turf, as two
are listed as main-track only entrants. WOODLANDER (Forestry) captured the
Lexington S. (G3) over the inner course in mid-July before taking a near
two-month hiatus. He returned in the Saranac S. (G3) last out, finishing third
by only 2 1/4 lengths while earning a 106 BRIS Late Pace rating, and probably
needed that one off the break. The Tom Albertrani-trained bay brings competitive
BRIS Speed numbers into this one, and we think the sophomore will come out on
top with Jose Espinoza aboard.

T.D. VANCE (Rahy) is returning here after taking the National Museum of
Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga in early August, where he earned a 97
Speed rating. Trained by H. Graham Motion, the bay gelding captured his second
straight stakes in that one after scoring in the Toronto Cup H. at Woodbine
previously. He loves the distance, taking both of his starts at 1 1/8 miles, and
will challenge for it all with Jose Santos in the irons.

JAMBALAYA (Langfuhr) is seeking to keep his four-race win streak going by
adding another victory here. The three-year-old gelding broke his maiden at
Woodbine by 1 1/2 lengths, captured an allowance and the prestigious Breeders’ S. over that
same track in his next two, then tried the U.S. turf in the Saranac, posting a
nose victory. The Catherine Day-Phillips charge is undefeated on the grass from
those four starts and will be tough to deny under John Velazquez.

REBEL REBEL (Ire) (Revoque) made his U.S. debut under the tutelage of Bobby
Frankel in the Virginia Derby (G3), finishing third. The bay colt, second in the
English Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) earlier this season, is now under the
guidance of trainer Richard Dutrow and has been working well at Aqueduct to
prepare for this one. Gary Stevens has the call, and the two could find
themselves getting their picture taken at the end. SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet
Soup) is still seeking his first stakes win, but did finish second by only a
nose in both the Saranac and Hall of Fame in his past two. The Bill
Mott-conditioned gray shouldn’t be left out of the exotics and might even earn
the breakthrough win here.

FISHY ADVICE (Woodman) owns a nice late turn of hoof and could easily grab
part from off the pace. CHESTERTOWN SLEW (Seattle Slew) finished sixth in his
stakes debut, the Saranac, and might not be ready for this level just yet.

CROWN POINT (Honor Grades) and WATCHMON (Maria’s Mon) are both entered as
main-track only runners. Crown Point is returning off a eight-day layoff, after
finishing second in the Pegasus S. (G3) at the Meadowlands, but could still show
up in the top three if he draws in. Watchmon is a threat to win it all if the
race is taken off the turf. Trained by Pat Reynolds, the gray colt has captured
his past two by easy margins while earning triple-digit Speed ratings.