Who Do You Like Today?

Juvenile Fillies:

Wild Fit - Will appreciate the one turn route
Original Spin - Unbeaten filly took the Lassie at the one turn mile at Arlington, gets Bailey, and drew raves for her final workout.

Head2Head – Ex Caelis over Diamond Omi


Juvenile:

Sorcerer’s Stone - Unbeaten colt impressed visually and otherwise in his Arlington-Washington Futurity win at a one turn mile, getting the final quarter in 24 seconds, and should love the route.
First Samurai - If you’re going against him, perhaps you shouldn’t take a peek at this most imposing two year old in the paddock beforehand. Has won his four starts, including two Grade 1’s, by a combined 18 1/2 lengths, but has to do more than just catch Henny Hughes this time.
Private Vow - Improved with every start, and was the easiest kind of winner in the Futurity, creating a tough decision for Jerry Bailey before he went with the favorite. Test for class today.
Stevie Wonderboy - His amazing rally in the Del Mar Futurity may have been the most visually impressive of all the Juvenile preps. Competitive on figs, and wowed the clockers Monday morning.

Head2Head – Sorcerer’s Stone over Stevie Wonderboy and Stream Cat


Filly & Mare Turf:

Karen’s Caper - Improved three year old held her own against her G1 elders in Europe, and unleashed a furious rally after being repeatedly steadied in the stretch at Keeneland. Taken to upset.
Wonder Again - Always fires, and loves the soft going.
Megahertz - Love her to death, but has to show she can win on soft going and outside of Southern Cal.
Ouija Board - Defending champ has to overcome bad post and sparse 2005 campaign.

Head2Head – Wonder Again over Film Maker and Ouija Board


Sprint:

Lost in the Fog - Has a couple of cheaper speedsters to contend with early, but once he disposes of them, the closers will be chasing in vain.
Wildcat Heir - Will be tracking right behind the action; first in line if the favorite falters.
Lion Tamer - No reason other than I loved what he looked like in his breeze on Monday.
Taste of Paradise - May have found a track that suits him. Be flying late.

Head2Head – Lion Tamer over Silver Train


Mile

Leroidesanimaux - Confession: I haven’t really handicapped this race in detail, I just love this horse. The experts from Europe concede that they don’t have a strong contingent, and that’s good enough for me. Lousy post and a truly soft course (as opposed to the one he ran a mile in 1:35 over at Woodbine) are both concerns, but he’s looked too impressive to go against.
Singletary - Defending champ rallied past the Oak Tree Mile field effortlessly and was being pulled up at the wire. Gets the money if the top one falters.

Head2Head – Singletary over Artie Schiller and Gorella,


Distaff

Stellar Jayne - The hardest race of the day, to me anyway. A tepid vote for this filly, who may get a jump on the other ones that possess early speed and take them all the way.
Pleasant Home - Improving Phipps filly could get a piece at a big price.
Happy Ticket - Always close, tough to knock.
Sweet Symphony - Three year old looks to bounce back from her first loss, but they’re all over her in the Form for getting outworked by a two year old in her final work. I liked her before I read that stuff; too much information?

Head2Head – So of course, Sweet Symphony has to be one of these. I just don’t know.


Turf

Fourty Niners Home - Big balloons, as Harvey Pack used to say. First try at the distance makes him a stab, but he always fires, closed in :22 4/5 in his last, and if he can get the distance, watch out.
Better Talk Now - Becomes the top choice if he’s higher than his 8-1 morning line. Defending champ is in excellent form and seems to be getting overlooked.
Bago - Ultra-consistent Frenchman has never been out of the money and looks to be able to handle soft going.
Shirocco - Less than a length behind Bago in the Arc in just his second start of the year. The optimal third race of the cycle comes over a soft turf that he’s reported to love.
Head2Head – Better Talk Now over Shakespeare and Bago



Classic

Saint Liam - Damn it! There goes my fantasy of getting 7-2 with Rock Hard Ten having been scratched.
Oratorio - This year’s European Classic surprise? Three year old has made nice Timeform improvement and his 4th place finish in his last at Newmarket wasn’t shabby at all.
Choctaw Nation - Late runner may be improving about as much as Borrego has. Was just 3/4’s behind that one in the Pacific Classic, and had no chance in paceless Goodwood. May encounter that same problem again here.
Borrego - If he’s really as good as his last would suggest, at least visually, than he may not need that hot of a pace.

Head2Head – Rock Hard Ten is scratched.