Gierkink's preview: Shippers make for difficult card

This may be the most difficult card of the meet so far from a handicapping perspective, mainly because of the abundance of shippers. Occasional View is the “now” horse in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes off his wide, closing tally in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland. He made quite a splash when he saw action last here in the Nov. 15 Autumn Stakes, which he led until the last jump in his debut off the $100,000 claim by trainer Ken McPeek.

Delegation could dominate the front-end proceedings in the seven-furlong Vigil, but how ready is he off the seven-month layoff? He was a vet scratch after spiking a temperature in the April 13 Jacques Cartier Stakes, so there’s a gap in his works. He’s done his optimum running around two turns with an uncontested lead and is questionable at the distance. His stablemate, Dynamic Sky, could be the sleeper in his second race off a layoff, which began after his third-place finish in the 2013 Queen’s Plate.

Dan the Tin Man and Victory Exchange ran one-two in the six-furlong Jacques Cartier Stakes, after both saved ground on the best part of the track on the turn, before tipping out wide in the lane.

Viable singles on the card include Queen’s Plate prospect Coltimus Prime in the fourth. He was a closing fifth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and is meeting older Ontario-sired opposition in the non-winners of two allowance route.

Overtone can break her maiden in the fifth in her first Polytrack start since the fall. She ran hot and cold over the winter on the grass at Gulfstream and Keeneland, and trainer Mark Casse is putting the blinkers on her.

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover for the 10th is nearly $77,000. Keen Gizmo could break through in his second start as a gelding in the two-turn maiden special. Stakes winner Ultimate Destiny’s full brother, One Destiny, is also in with a shot as he stretches out for his second trip postward.