Transylvania

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The top contenders in Friday’s Transylvania S. (G3) on the opening day at
Keeneland are hard to separate. The Todd Pletcher-trained DUBLEO (Southern
Halo), who is a neck shy of winning all six of his turf starts, is clearly the
one to beat. However, at 7-5 on the morning line, we’re going to take a stab with the
other Pletcher runner, GUILLAUME TELL (Ire) (Rossini), who gets a slight weight
break and attracts top rider Rafael Bejarano.

Guillaume Tell closed out his juvenile campaign with a second-place run,
beaten a nostril, in the about one-mile Prix Thomas Bryon (Fr-G3) at Saint
Cloud. The chestnut closed quickly for runner-up honors as the even-money
favorite against first-level allowance sorts going 8 1/2 furlongs on the grass
at Gulfstream Park in his U.S. debut in late January. In his most recent outing,
he attended the early running before finishing a decent third to Noble Causeway
(Giant’s Causeway) in a nine-furlong allowance on the main track at Gulfstream.
Guillaume Tell could surprise at playable odds.

Dubleo, who closed out his juvenile season with a victory in the one-mile
Generous S. (G3) at Hollywood Park, is a top sophomore turf runner. The dark bay
returned to action with a strong winning performance in the grassy, 8
1/2-furlong Dave Feldman S. at Gulfstream. Dubleo, who likes to press or set the
pace, will be hard to keep off the board but won’t offer any value.

Hill Rise S. winner CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR (War Chant) ships in from Southern
California for trainer Bobby Frankel after running well against Chinese Dragon
(Stravinsky) in the one-mile Pasadena S. at Santa Anita. That day, the bay broke
from post 12, then closed with interest, passing five others in the lane.
Chattahoochee War gets the services of Jerry Bailey and should be a factor.

REY DE CAFE (Kingmambo), who defeated Dubleo and READY RULER (More Than
Ready) in the Bourbon County S. over this course last fall, was in the mix until
the furlong marker against the likes of High Fly (Atticus) in the Aventura S. on
the main track in his only start this season. He is a head shy of being
two-for-two on this course and must be respected. Ready Ruler, trained by the
ever-dangerous Steve Asmussen, has not started since his third-place finish in
the Bourbon County, but figures to be ready to go off the shelf. He rates our
longshot special.

Listed winner MOTH BALL (GB) (Royal Applause) was in a good position before
fading to ninth in the Pasadena last out. He adds blinkers and has some upset
potential. COSMIC KRIS (Storm Creek) won his last two on the front end going
long on the turf at Fair Grounds and figures to duke it out with Dubleo in the
early going. Consider at large odds.

B TRICK (Phone Trick) and MAIN POINT (Lil’s Lad) are overmatched.