Robert F. Carey Memorial

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of nine will line up on Saturday to compete for the $150,000 Robert

F. Carey Memorial H. (G3) at Hawthorne. FORT PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) exits a

solid fifth in the Play the King H. (Can-G2), a race in which he earned a career-high BRIS Speed figure of 102 and received a 115 BRIS Late

Pace rating. The Chris Block-trained four-year-old ran into traffic in the

stretch, halting his momentum and breaking a four-race win streak. On a track

that has favored late runners, Fort Prado could have the

advantage here. Regular rider Eusebio Razo will have the call.

REMIND (Deputy Minister) comes into the one-mile turf event off a third to

fellow Carey rivals Fort Prado and OLD DEUTERONOMY (Storm Cat) in the Sea o' Erin

Breeders' Cup Mile H. in early August. In his past six starts, the five-year-old

bay has finished off the board only once, a close fifth in the Red Bank H. (G3).

The Bill Mott trainee is capable of going wire to wire or putting in a late run

and could easily hit the board here. Brice Blanc rides.

G P FLEET (Northern Afleet) is another deadly closer who looms as a threat.

He was a close fourth in the Oceanport H. (G3) and was beaten by just a neck in

the Opening Verse H. two back. The five-year-old gelding cuts back in this spot and should be kept in mind for the exotics beneath jockey

Jesus Castanon.

Old Deuteronomy is not as seasoned against stakes foes, but is

capable of running in the top three. The four-year-old dark bay has good early

speed, earning BRIS E1 and E2 ratings in the triple digits in his last two outings. He

might not be able to outlast the closers, but has a good shot of finishing near

the front of the pack.

GONDOLIERI (Chi) (Gold Tribute) should also be found on the early lead in his

third start for new trainer Steve Asmussen. Gondolieri weakened in the John

Henry S. last out after running near the front for a majority of the race, but

the cut back in distance should help.

MAJOR RHYTHM (Rhythm) has the most experience of any competitor over this

surface, racing five times over Hawthorne's turf and hitting the board in four

of those. He finished third in the Arlington H. (G3) last out and seems to fair

well with Earlie Fires in the saddle. SPRUCE RUN (Repriced) comes off a

two-length win in the Labor Day S., but has produced mixed results in his past

few starts, coming in ninth after weakening in the Oceanport most recently. We

will let him beat us.

JUST SEE JAMES (The Name's Jimmy) will be making his first grass start here

and we will give him a race. WIMPLESTILTSKIN (Petionville) has one victory over

the turf in three starts but we can't recommend.