The facts point to Dataman in the Cliff Hanger

Forever Souper found himself blocked for much of the stretch run when finishing third in the Henry Clark Stakes on April 9 at Laurel Park while victorious Dataman had a clear run to the wire. Do not assume Forever Souper will be reversing the outcome Saturday at Monmouth Park in the $100,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes.

Dataman is a 4-year-old with 11 starts, Forever Souper a 5-year-old with 14. Dataman was racing for the first time since October in the Henry Clark while Forever Souper had run a month earlier in Florida. While Forever Souper saved ground on both turns of that one-mile grass race, Dataman was stuck outside, and the added half-furlong of the Cliff Hanger should benefit Dataman, who won the Bald Eagle Derby last year going 1 3/16 miles.

The pair of Maryland shippers are among nine Cliff Hanger entrants, two of whom – Laughing Boy and Duke of Gloucester – appear to be dirt horses. California Frolic has no path to victory, though another longer price, Wicked Finn, could get a piece of things if he runs back to his second in the Red Bank last summer at Monmouth.

General Jim has made five of his last six starts on dirt but might be equally capable on turf if his 2-year-old form from 2022 serves as a guide. Thing is, it’s hard to say if General Jim has any kind of form at all these days. His last three outings were clunkers.

Two New Jersey-breds, familiar foes, have a shot. There Are No Words beat He’spuregold while finishing second in the Oceanport last August, but He’spuregold finished in front of him in their previous two meetings.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

There Are No Words improved markedly in the second start of his form cycle coming back from layoffs the last two years and races Saturday for the first time since October. He’spuregold got in a solid comeback run last month at Gulfstream Park and is the more likely winner Saturday between that pair.

The Clark duo, though, could be a notch better, and Dataman could occupy a higher rung than Forever Souper. Forever Souper did win a pair of Monmouth turf allowance races last summer but seems to have hit a plateau in his last three starts. Dataman should have more to give.

Trainer Graham Motion said he considered Dataman for the Dinner Party Stakes on the Preakness undercard before deciding to give the Tapit gelding an extra week.

“I thought coming back in four weeks rather than five wasn’t the right move for this horse,” Motion said. “He can be difficult in the morning. He’s quite nervous.”

Dataman won the Henry Clark despite failing to change leads, though he’s changed on cue in the past. And even when Forever Souper was switched outside for clear running in deep stretch last month, it was Dataman doing the better work at the wire.

Parse the available information, and you could conclude Dataman is the right one in the Cliff Hanger.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.