Nada six anywhere chalk prevails.
Update
As we approach the race it occurs to me I should protect the price if it stays anywhere near the M/L by playing under Crowd favorite #5 Book\'em Danno in an exacta. I\'ll probably wait until Maggie reports on Damon\'s Mound before committing to playing Super Perfectas.
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Skelly
One of 2 6 y/o\'s along with Nakatomi. On their bests this is the fastest of the contenders. For the last three years this one peaked in April/May as an Oaklawn Park specialist. Two years ago his season ended in May. Last year he was able to maintain his form with an abbreviated fall campaign into the BC Sprint where a 4w trip didn\'t help him. This year after two knock out performances in April he got a terrible number in late May shipping to CD. Now Asmussen brings him to SAR. The major question about this one was resolved when he was scratched along with Full Moon Madness whose forging pattern looked positive.
Damon\'s Mound
A competitor distinctly slower than the rest who has been helped by the two scratches. None the less, one has to ask why is he in this race? Being trained by Bill Mott exacerbates the dilemma. A morning line approaching 20/1 I would love any reason other than the Mott angle to support this one. But his habit of losing ground is strike three for me. Wait.. digging deep he did run a zero at Parx, in the slop as a 3 y/o. C/B as simple as a if rain play. Beware his sparse races the last two years shout he could run anything? Today. Rewards to the bold.
Mullikin
This guy got run down by today\'s likely favorite Book\'em Danno. Previous to that his effort @ CD appears sub-standard maybe 1st out or the trip. His TG was solid helped a little by ground loss. This one is nearly always in the lead at the stretch call. I expect him to run even better today. He seems one that needs to be on Tri tickets. The absence of Jockey Prat is not a plus but I think a dry track might be. A m/l of 7/2 seems fair especially if only 6 go. A win contender even if he has lost a little luster.
Book\'em Danno
Still only a 4 y/o so more development is possible but as the favorite I feel obligated to go against. His last race was a new top. His celebrity will make him an underlay I suspect. Plus that late charge could be denied if another gets too big or easy lead. ML 5/2 before scratches?
Nash
Some plus points Godolphin owned, Cox trained, a 4 y/o, he attended some blistering paces in his last two races @CD, m/l 8/1 makes this one appear overlooked some? This one is a bargain. This one ran a Route TG 3 when a two y/o! After taking off last fall and a lackluster start to this year Cox has decided to try sprinting. The TG #\'s improved markedly. Bet this horse.
BABY YODA
Another Mott trainee. Another enigma. I don\'t remember Mott always being the trainer of this one, has he been? A seven year old. Beaten by Nakatomi in last year\'s rendition of the Vanderbilt and then Mullikin in the Forego. A jockey switch from Prat (who probably has a couple of good things @Mth) is well ..... Flavien sent him through 6 furlongs in 1:07.2 and kept going at Aqueduct last out. Great effort but I don\'t see this one as a Grade 1 winner. I won\'t be shocked if he hits the board he is another that will be motoring early. 6/1 is good value. He can repeat his last effort given Mott probably. Useful.
Nakatomi
Not one to be overlooked. Went off @ 4/1 in last years BC sprint. Third start this year. first out ran 2nd in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen. Then 2nd out at CD vs a couple of these tossed head at the start and was never really in the race. Still in one effort and one non effort he has banked $400K so far this year. Trainer Ward appears to manage this one carefully. I expect a good effort today. @9/2 before scratch induced odds erosion. A contender in my view and his bevy of -1\'s might get him as far up as 2nd.
So my initial betting strategy...
SuperPerfecta Nash/Nakatomi, Mullikin, Baby Yoda/all/all