Fairmount: Battle of unbeatens

Caruso, Custom Cart, Barley Beliveable, and Scary Thoughts were all authoritative winners of their debuts this summer at Arlington Park. Whoever is best among those four undefeated Illinois-bred 2-year-olds will be decided in the $40,000 Troy Our Boy Stakes at Fairmount Park at six furlongs.

Despite winning his debut by four lengths, compared to the six-length win margins posted by his three primary rivals, Scary Thoughts might be a slight favorite in the Troy Our Boy based on his winning Beyer of 68, the highest in the field. Scary Thoughts also has a favorable pedigree - he is a half-brother to Out of Options, a mare who has won multiple Illinois stakes - and unlike the other three, Scary Thoughts has had a race within the last six weeks.

Still, the outcome of the Troy Our Boy is not so cut and dried, especially since three of the four main contenders are front-runners. Barley Beliveable won his maiden gate to wire, and Caruso and Scary Thoughts both pressed the pace before drawing off in their victories. That leaves Custom Cart, the slowest of the Arlington maiden winners, with a winning Beyer of 56, potentially in the catbird seat rating a couple of lengths behind the top three.

Another gelding sure to appreciate a contested pace is the maiden Cruising Cart. Cruising Cart adds Lasix for the Troy Our Boy and has posted a bullet work over the Fairmount surface since his last start.