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The Skinny
Trainer Todd Pletcher has stated that this big gray is unlikely to run, and that doesn’t sound like he has a lot of confidence in this $1.1 million short yearling. Sparkled in his three-year-old debut going seven furlongs at Gulfstream, earning a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. Didn’t think he ran badly in the Florida Derby two starts back. In only his second start of the year, and his first at nine furlongs, he was asked to throw it down three furlongs from the wire, and still held gamely for the runner-up spot. Can’t make any excuses for his dull Wood Memorial try, however. He was on the lead over a track that played to speed runners, but failed to go on when the real running began. Has a great deal of gate speed, but his Beyers are going the wrong way, and he might simply be a sprinter-miler at heart. Would have to turn it up a couple of notches in order to grab the Roses.

- Dan Illman