Stuyvesant

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A small but contentious field of six lines up for the $100,000 Stuyvesant H.
(G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. While EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) is
undoubtedly the most accomplished in this group, the seven-year-old warhorse
appears to have
left his best form behind him, and it may be worth trying to beat him
here.

As the old adage says, pace makes the race, and KENNEL UP (Joyeux Danseur)
figures to be the controlling speed under Mike Luzzi. Crafty trainer Allen
Jerkens had entered the four-year-old as a main-track-only participant in last
weekend’s Red Smith H. (G2), and with that race remaining on the lawn, has opted
for this spot. Kennel Up is exiting a wire-to-wire victory in an
allowance/optional claimer at Belmont in which he set comfortable fractions and
then drew off in the lane to score by four lengths, earning an impressive 108 BRIS Late Speed rating. A similar pace scenario may well unfold here, and Kennel
Up is the type of front runner who, once emboldened, takes on new courage and
becomes very difficult to run down. With an undemanding first half over a
surface that’s been congenial to speed, he gets the nod to hold off the closers.

The Todd Pletcher-trained WEST VIRGINIA (Tomorrows Cat) will try to rebound
from a disappointing fifth-place effort in the Empire Classic H. for New York-breds
behind SPITE THE DEVIL (Devil His Due). But given the sloppy conditions, that
performance is not indicative of his ability. Compare his tremendous finish in
the same race last year, when as a three-year-old facing elders, he just missed
by a head, also to Spite the Devil, after going four wide. On the board in five of
six tries at 1 1/8 miles and victorious in two of three starts at Aqueduct,
West Virginia looms as a prime danger here under rider Norberto Arroyo Jr.

Veteran campaigner AGGADAN (Carnivalay), with Cornelio Velasquez in the
irons, will probably secure an advantageous stalking trip. The Richard Dutrow
Jr. trainee has two wins and two seconds at the distance, and he recently
drilled a bullet five-eighths at Aqueduct. Prior to his last-out second in the
Maryland Million Classic S., he had placed in a nine-furlong Saratoga allowance
after a rough break in which he was bumped and then stumbled. On that day he was
well behind winner Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy), who later captured the Fayette S.
(G3) at Keeneland, but Aggadan still defeated Stuyvesant rival DR. ROCKETT
(Regal Classic) despite the troubled start.

Spite the Devil, stablemate of Kennel Up, enters this race off a successful
defense of his title in the Empire Classic H. The late-running five-year-old
closed furiously to score by a length, garnering a BRIS Speed rating of 107, the
best last-race figure of any horse in the field. While he will try to uncork a
similar finish here, he probably won’t get the ferocious early speed necessary
to help his chances, but he deserves respect in the exotics. Channing Hill takes
the reins for Jerkens.

Evening Attire is the personification of back class, claiming triumphs in the
2002 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) and two previous runnings of the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). Unfortunately, he has not visited the winner’s circle for trainer Pat
Kelly Jr. in nearly 15 months, and his form
has appeared to tail off. Moreover, he has not even threatened the top finishers
since last December’s Queens County H. (G3) over the inner dirt at Aqueduct,
when he came in second, three-quarters of a length behind Classic Endeavor
(Silver Buck). While a return to Grade 3 company may augur well for him and it
would be no surprise to see him revert to form, the preference is to wait and
see if any of his old sparkle remains, especially since he will offer little value.
Jose Santos will partner the elder statesman of the group.

Dr. Rockett, interestingly both an entry-mate and half-brother to Evening
Attire, was crushed by Kennel Up in the previously mentioned allowance/optional
claimer at Belmont. The six-year-old has only four wins in 56 lifetime starts
and has not been a factor in his rare stakes appearances. In light
of his swift half-mile work in preparation for this assignment, one suspects his
task is to battle Kennel Up in order to pave the way for Evening Attire, but
Dr. Rockett probably doesn’t have enough early foot to put a serious dent into Kennel Up.
Jean Luc Samyn has been named to ride.