High Intellect still must pass test

DEL MAR, Calif. - Even if his older brother is a track-record holder and a graded-stakes winner, High Intellect did not do enough to impress trainer Craig Lewis when he beat maidens in his debut.

"The jury is out," Lewis said. "I'm a guy that believes in evidence."

High Intellect can prove his ability to Lewis in Wednesday's $125,000 Graduation Stakes for statebreds at Del Mar. A victory would cap a big month for High Intellect's family. On July 4, Idiot Proof, High Intellect's 3-year-old brother, won the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes in track-record time at Monmouth Park. Both are sons of Benchmark out of the Bertrando mare Perfectly Pretty.

High Intellect won his debut at Hollywood Park on June 27, leading throughout a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs. The Graduation Stakes, also at 5o1/2 furlongs, will be run at a strong pace, and High Intellect figures to be prominent from the start.

"One race doesn't make a career, but he acts like a nice horse," Lewis said. "He's shown a lot of ability. I'm happy to be where I'm at with him. This race will tell us something."

Owned by David Lanzman, High Intellect has one workout on Del Mar's Polytrack synthetic track surface, which Lewis hopes will help the colt adapt to the surface.

"A different surface adds to the mystery," he said.

High Intellect will break from post 2 in the Graduation and have 10 rivals, including Run Brother Run, the winner of the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity at Pleasanton on July 1, and Suit Yourself, a sharp maiden winner at Hollywood Park on May 30.

Run Brother Run, coupled with Deputy Bertrando, is the only stakes winner in the field. Deputy Bertrando was third in the Nevin and second in the Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in June. Jeff Bonde trains both for partnerships.

Suit Yourself will be making his first start against winners. Trained by Mike Puype for Judith Carmel, Suit Yourself led throughout a five-furlong maiden race but is not expected to lead in the Graduation.

"He's been closing in his works, so we're not looking to send him," Puype said. "I think he'll do a lot better coming from off of it."

Puype has been pointing Suit Yourself to the Graduation Stakes since the win in the maiden race.

"He's matured physically," Puype said. "It's been a good move to wait for this race. It's good money, and you want to have the tank full. He hasn't missed a lesson in between."