Circus Bar fast but outside

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Circus Bar seems to have the best speed of the 13 2-year-olds set to run in Saturday's $25,000 Anthony Despirito Stakes at Suffolk Downs. Although he will likely be the post-time favorite, his mission will be complicated by the outside post in the six-furlong race. Jorge Vargas has the call.

Sound Money Stable claimed Circus Bar for $50,000 out of his maiden win in August at Saratoga. In his lone New England appearance, he raced wide and failed to fire in the stretch as he finished a distant second behind New England champion 2-year-old Method Man in the Duncan Memorial at Rockingham. A Golden Gar gelding trained by Mike Aro, Circus Bar did finish in front of many of the Despirito prospects that day.

Circus Bar most recently took on nonwinners-of-two allowance company in a 6 1/2-furlong race at Keeneland. He was caught up in a speed duel in which the opening six furlongs were completed in 1:10.80, and he faded to fourth at the end. He should find a much more moderate pace in the Despirito.

Stylish Sultan is a full brother to multiple New England champion Sunlit Ridge, and he comes into Saturday's race off two consecutive victories. He scored his maiden win in the first of those, then followed up with an impressive rally to win a six-furlong allowance here in the good time of 1:11.60.

Little Billy gave up a clear lead in the stretch as he finished second at 3-10 in Stylish Sultan's allowance win. Little Billy was third in the Duncan at the Rock before that.

Mrscoppolaskitchen, a filly, is the lone stakes winner in the field. She came from just off the pace when she won the Mom's Command here two weeks ago, getting today's distance in 1:14.40. In addition to taking on males, she is stuck with the number 12 post.

Slippery Gator won his maiden here late last month in his lone career outing and is another who will appreciate a fast pace to run at. An Appealing Skier colt, he is out of owner Francis McDonnell's prolific producer Lady Gator, and that makes him a relative of some of the best runners seen in New England the past several years.

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