BED O' ROSES BREEDERS' CUP HANDICAP (G3), 8TH-AQUEDUCT, $150,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1M, 4:20 P.M. EDT, 4-17
PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 PASSING SHOT JERKENS H ALLEN SANTOS J A 115
2 BUY THE SPORT BARBARA ROBERT MIGLIORE R 116
3 NONSUCH BAY ALEXANDER FRANK A CHAVEZ J F 116
4 VICTORY ENCOUNTER SADLER JOHN W BRIDGMOHAN S X 118
5 CHIRIMOYA HUSHION MICHAEL E COTTO P L JR 111
6 PRINCESS DIXIE BOND HAROLD JAMES LUZZI M J 112
7 SMOK'N FROLIC PLETCHER TODD A VELAZQUEZ J R 119
Saturday's $150,000 Bed o' Roses H. (G2) features three Grade 1 winners, but the horse to beat is SMOK'N FROLIC (Smoke Glacken). The multiple Grade 2 heroine exits a sharp 6 1/2-length score in the Next Move H. (G3) and relishes Aqueduct's main track (4-3-1-0).
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Smok'n Frolic owns a 3-1-2-0 mark at a mile and will be forwardly placed from the start with her tactical speed. When John Velazquez asks for her best, Smok'n Frolic should take over.
BUY THE SPORT (Devil's Bag) runs well fresh and drilled five furlongs in a bullet :59 1/5 on Monday in preparation for this event. The Robert Barbara-trained four-year-old captured the nine-furlong Gazelle H. (G1) in her U.S. debut last September and then tackled top company in her next two outings, finishing a commendable third and fifth in the Gazelle H. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), respectively. She drops back in against lesser company and was a listed winner at a mile in Europe.
NONSUCH BAY (Mr. Greeley) ran well when drawing off to a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Banshee Breeze H. at Gulfstream last out and brings nice form into this event from three starts in 2004. The Frank Alexander-trained mare finished a solid third in this event last year and may show more this time.
PASSING SHOT (A.P. Indy) didn't show much in her first two starts this year but has run well over the track (4-2-0-1). The Grade 1 winner may be rounding back into better form for trainer Allen Jerkens and could grab a share. VICTORY ENCOUNTER (Victory Speed) captured the El Encino H. (G2) at Santa Anita two starts back but didn't fire in her last. She travels east for the first time and will attempt to rally from off the pace.
CHIRIMOYA (Cobra King) could show some early speed but will likely struggle in the stretch against this company. PRINCESS DIXIE (Dixie Brass) makes her first start of the year and has been more effective against New York-breds. We'll give her a race.
TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS:
1st-SMOK'N FROLIC
2nd-BUY THE SPORT
3rd-NONSUCH BAY
PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 PASSING SHOT JERKENS H ALLEN SANTOS J A 115
2 BUY THE SPORT BARBARA ROBERT MIGLIORE R 116
3 NONSUCH BAY ALEXANDER FRANK A CHAVEZ J F 116
4 VICTORY ENCOUNTER SADLER JOHN W BRIDGMOHAN S X 118
5 CHIRIMOYA HUSHION MICHAEL E COTTO P L JR 111
6 PRINCESS DIXIE BOND HAROLD JAMES LUZZI M J 112
7 SMOK'N FROLIC PLETCHER TODD A VELAZQUEZ J R 119
Saturday's $150,000 Bed o' Roses H. (G2) features three Grade 1 winners, but the horse to beat is SMOK'N FROLIC (Smoke Glacken). The multiple Grade 2 heroine exits a sharp 6 1/2-length score in the Next Move H. (G3) and relishes Aqueduct's main track (4-3-1-0).
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Smok'n Frolic owns a 3-1-2-0 mark at a mile and will be forwardly placed from the start with her tactical speed. When John Velazquez asks for her best, Smok'n Frolic should take over.
BUY THE SPORT (Devil's Bag) runs well fresh and drilled five furlongs in a bullet :59 1/5 on Monday in preparation for this event. The Robert Barbara-trained four-year-old captured the nine-furlong Gazelle H. (G1) in her U.S. debut last September and then tackled top company in her next two outings, finishing a commendable third and fifth in the Gazelle H. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), respectively. She drops back in against lesser company and was a listed winner at a mile in Europe.
NONSUCH BAY (Mr. Greeley) ran well when drawing off to a 3 1/2-length triumph in the Banshee Breeze H. at Gulfstream last out and brings nice form into this event from three starts in 2004. The Frank Alexander-trained mare finished a solid third in this event last year and may show more this time.
PASSING SHOT (A.P. Indy) didn't show much in her first two starts this year but has run well over the track (4-2-0-1). The Grade 1 winner may be rounding back into better form for trainer Allen Jerkens and could grab a share. VICTORY ENCOUNTER (Victory Speed) captured the El Encino H. (G2) at Santa Anita two starts back but didn't fire in her last. She travels east for the first time and will attempt to rally from off the pace.
CHIRIMOYA (Cobra King) could show some early speed but will likely struggle in the stretch against this company. PRINCESS DIXIE (Dixie Brass) makes her first start of the year and has been more effective against New York-breds. We'll give her a race.
TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS:
1st-SMOK'N FROLIC
2nd-BUY THE SPORT
3rd-NONSUCH BAY
