Hirsch Jacobs: Teton Forest tough

There are three stakes winners and three undefeated horses entered in Saturday's $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters. But it is Teton Forest - who does not fall into either category - that looms the horse to beat in the six-furlong race. The Hirsch Jacobs drew a field of 11, though two horses, Wild Wildcat and Tiger, were entered to run in an allowance race at Belmont Park on Thursday.

, trained by Bob Baffert, comes off a solid win in an optional claiming race at Santa Anita on April 10 in which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 106. He has come back with four solid workouts and gets the services of Jerry Bailey. Teton Forest spent the early part of the year knocking heads with Imperialism and Rock Hard Ten, horses that are entered in Saturday's Preakness.

On paper, there is plenty of pace in the Hirsch Jacobs. Even if Tiger and the undefeated Wild Wildcat both stay in New York, there will still be pace with Penn Pacific, Move to Strike, and Abbondanza in the field. Penn Pacific, who is 2 for 2, makes his first start after being privately purchased by Barry Irwin's Team Valor Stables.

A hot pace could also help Redskin Warrior and Bwana Charlie, both stakes winners. Redskin Warrior earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure when he won the Best Turn Stakes in February. Bwana Charlie won his maiden from a stalking position the one and only time he raced at six furlongs. Bwana Charlie won the Grade 3 Lafayette at Keeneland two starts back.