Razorback BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sunday's Razorback Breeders' Cup H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park has drawn a talented

field of 10 runners, including Peter Pan S. (G2) and Jim Dandy S. (G2) hero

PURGE (Pulpit). The morning-line favorite is conceding experience

to his rivals, though, and we'll go with the lightning-fast ADDED EDGE (Smart

Strike). The five-year-old has not made it to the winner's circle in two tries

this year, although he did close out his 2004 season with a gutsy win in the

Michael G. Schaefer Mile S. The Grade 3-winning chestnut has recorded triple-digit

BRIS Speed figures

in all five of his starts since switching to the barn of Dale Romans last

summer, where he owns a record of 2-1-1, and we look for him to win his first

graded stakes race for his new trainer in this one.

Purge must be respected. Conditioned by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd

Pletcher, the bay won two Grade 2 contests last year over some of the best

three-year-olds in the nation. He has not returned to the track in the same form

in 2005, but has been training forwardly since his latest outing and looks as

though he is finally ready to run this year.

THE LADY'S GROOM (Runaway Groom) will be on the front end and was in top form

going into last year's Saratoga Breeders' Cup H. (G2) before finishing a badly

beaten seventh. The chestnut was given the rest of the year off, and he finished fourth in

in his 2005 bow, an optional claimer, but was steadied on the

backstretch. The five-year-old should move forward with one freshener under him,

so don't forget this sleeper at

the windows.

In his first and only start for new conditioner Cole Norman, ABSENT FRIEND

(Runaway Groom) closed with a rush to take the Essex H. (G3) here at Oaklawn. If

the five-year-old grey can keep that form, he'll be a contender here.

The Steve Flint-trained GIGAWATT (Wild Again) has been switched to the dirt

since moving to the Flint barn, and is taking to it well. The dark bay took the

Louisiana H. two back, run at the Razorback distance, and ran into traffic

problems last time when finishing fourth in the Mineshaft H. (G3). The

five-year-old is worth a second look for the exotics.

SEPARATO (Victory Gallop) rates our longshot special. The bay four-year-old

was third in the Essex but frequently runs at or near the Razorback distance

(7-5-1-1 at 8 1/2 furlongs) and could surprise at longer odds. MAUK FOUR (Boston

Harbor) owns a shot to steal it on the front end, but that seems to be the

five-year-old's only chance in a field stacked with closers. We'll use the

chestnut on the bottom of the gimmicks.

Fourth in the Essex, RIVER MOUNTAIN RD (Deputy Commander) consistently

records Speed ratings in the mid- to upper 90s, but that does not look like it can get it

done in this bunch. We'll watch the Robert Holthus trainee for now. INTELLIGENT MALE (Ride the Storm) appears more comfortable at the non-graded

level of competition and may be a step below these. CLAYS AWESOME (Awesome

Again) steps up here and we'll give him one start, despite two wins in a row.