Skip Away

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

ZAKOCITY (Precocity), the 5-2 morning-line favorite, has run two terrific
races over this surface in his last two starts and should prove hard to deny in
Saturday’s nine-furlong Skip Away H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The Pat Reynolds
trainee, a front-running winner of the nine-furlong Discovery H. (G3) last fall,
just missed in the nine-furlong, $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic in his
seasonal debut, earning excellent BRIS E1, E2 and Late Pace Ratings of 102, 114
and 105, respectively, and a Speed Rating of 112.

In his most recent outing, the bay four-year-old set fast fractions while
under pressure before holding on well for third in the 1 3/16-mile Gulfstream
Park H. (G2) against the likes of Oaklawn H. (G1) bound Eddington (Unbridled)
and Pies Prospect (Crafty Prospector). Zakocity, who gets a rider change to Jerry Bailey, easily rates
our top choice given his recent form and relatively low 117-pound impost.

Grade 2 winner EUROSILVER (Unbridled’s Song) seeks to rebound from a
disappointing fourth-place finish in his return to action in late February. The
Carl Nafzger trainee adds first-time blinkers and is a talented runner who
should pose a threat in the lane. He likes the off going and should be
respected for a top three placing under regular rider Javier Castellano.

Multiple Grade 3 winner TWILIGHT ROAD (Cahill Road), who is also entered in
the 7 1/2-furlong Artax H. earlier on the card, has some upset potential if he
runs here. The hard-knocking eight-year-old gelding has been training sharply of
late, including six furlongs in a bullet 1:10 3/5 over this surface on Sunday.
Twilight Road fits well with these and could factor from off the pace at
attractive odds.

SPITE THE DEVIL (Devil His Due), trained by “The Giant Killer,” Allen Jerkens,
has posted five straight bullets going six furlongs or farther for his return to
action and has the look of a useful longshot. The five-year-old gelding may not
be at his best in the off going, though. THE LADY’S GROOM (Runaway Groom) is in
good form, finishing a close sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Razorback Breeders’ Cup H.
(G3) at Oaklawn Park last out and fourth against a tough group here in early
February. He likes to be in the mix early and gets reunited with Edgar Prado.
Consider.

SIR OSCAR (Halo’s Image) won his first six starts, but is one for seven
since. He set the early pace before finishing a close fifth in the seven-furlong
Richter Scale Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) in his latest and could surprise with the
stretch out in distance. He is worth a second look at square odds. In his
return, OLE FAUNTY (Quiet American) ran a one-paced third in the John B.
Campbell H. at Laurel Park, a race he won in 2004. He gets John Velazquez up,
but has the look of an underlay.

TAP DAY (Pleasant Tap), who comes from the high percentage Mark Hennig
shedrow, won a two-turn stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in his last start and could factor
with improvement. Our concern is that he may not offer attractive odds. UNIGOLD
(Silver Deputy) has run well in both of his starts this season and has some upset
potential. He’s bred to like the mud. BIBLICAL SCHOLAR (Line in the Sand) is a
neck shy of winning his last three starts, but ran poorly in his only start in
the mud. Your call.