Firstly, you couldn\'t help but notice how quick the track was Friday, which depending upon the earlier races could be a factor by Donn Time....Smokin!
Wood Be Willing - You have to like the Trainer Change and dedicated conditioning over the surface. He caught the Distorted Humor Gelded Freak last in one of that one\'s yearly freakish races. A slow pace made it appear even more freakish than it was. To my eye they let the freak wear himself out for the rest of the year and saved something. TFigs may disagree but thats how I see it.
Sping at Last - I do not think this is a Turf Horse. Last time he tried turf in the midst of an improving dirt campaign it tended to indicate dirt was his game and/or that his previous trainer didn\'t know what the hell he was doing. Granting the latter is part of the story, the improved turf effort last tends to indicate this horse is even more now than then. no drills over the surface.
Daahar - He\'s quick, but not that much faster than Spring at Last and although he\'s carried the weight and run the distance well in the past, he\'s certainly run better running shorter and carrying less. It\'s a quick run to that first turn and if Luzzi misses the break by an instant, he\'ll have a lot more to do.
A.P.Arrow - William Tell his trainer ain\'t and this horse ain\'t no chingachgook\'s arrow, but he\'s a tryer and he fits. Probable path and weight have to be factored against him.
Fairbanks And here lies A.P.Arrow\'s best chance. On his best day this horse can scoot. Such tactics appear to have been employed last race vs. Brass Hat, but today, depending on the track, this horse could take the race right to Daahar from the outset. Maybe Velasquez wont try to hook Daahar right off, but he certainly aint gonna let him get off and who knows if a battle royale for the lead won\'t develop.
Kiss the Kid - This horse makes me a bit nervous. When his races come off the grass he runs like he means it. That scalding slop surface over at the Meadowlands should make one ponder. It\'s pretty clear the distance won\'t be an issue.
Brass Hat - Here he is. The one TGraph let get away. He\'s coming into this race, very much like he did 2 years ago, except for the fact he\'s two years older and coming in following another injury layoff. He\'s the good luck, hard luck horse, one day the magic will run out (Not saying its today) but you gotta love him.
Einstein - He\'s a darn good turf horse and he\'s conditioned by a trainer others running multiple entries in this race could learn a thing or two from. Tend to think the pace and the post are going to be a lot to overcome, but stranger things have happened.
I think I said good things about them all. I feel like Len Friedman, but this is a very interesting race.