Litfin: Don't knock move from synthetic to dirt

Perhaps the most remarkable running line from the prep races was Dance With Fate vaulting from 11th at the pace call to the lead in midstretch of the Blue Grass Stakes. While it’s become fashionable to knock Polytrack preps such as the Blue Grass and Spiral Stakes, recent Derby winners Street Sense and Animal Kingdom took that route, along with on-the-board finishers such as Hard Spun, Dullahan, and Paddy O’Prado.

Moreover, Dance With Fate was as good on dirt as he was on synthetic at 2 (even without Lasix in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile). He has moved forward tremendously at 3, beginning with a last quarter in under 23 seconds on turf, followed by ships to Northern California and Kentucky with steadily rising Beyer Speed Figures in two (!) races at 1 1/8 miles. He is accustomed to running in a crowd, and a contested pace will be favorable.

The good thing about post No. 20 is that Wicked Strong won’t have to be in the gate long, and he can be antsy in there, but it’s a potential hindrance if he can’t drop over to save ground, as he did so adroitly in the Wood Memorial. While he was in the best part of the track while overtaking a fast pace in the Wood and must prove he can run as well away from Aqueduct, any sort of decent early position gives him a big chance, and he’s very easy to root for by several measures.

I’m not getting the whole California Chrome thing. He peaked two months ago (unless he’s the second coming), has never been out of Southern California, and has no pedigree to speak of. He doesn’t break sharply either and is surrounded by all sorts of early speed rivals who do. Hats off if he wins.