Litfin's review: Free as a Bird does it again

Sunday, June 8 review

FREE AS A BIRD SOARS

Free as a Bird is in the midst of her best season at age 5, and is about a length away from five straight wins this year after prevailing in a wild multi-horse photo in the $100,000 Intercontinental Stakes.

Coming off a win in the License Fee Stakes here four weeks earlier for Ian Wilkes, Free as a Bird was up late under Joel Rosario to edge Believe in Charlie and Alaura Michelle after a cavalry charge to the wire that resulted in the first six finishers finishing one length apart.

It was the 14th winner on grass at the meet for Rosario, second only to Javier Castellano (19).

Unerringly consistent recently, Free as a Bird earned a Beyer Figure of 89, to go along with a line of 87-90-89 since taking a second-level allowance in March.

TOURIST CHECKS IN

Tourist turned in the performance of the day, looking as if he may be the best 3-year-old turf horse on the circuit.

After three starts on dirt, Bill Mott put Tourist on turf for the first time at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8, and the Tiznow colt responded with a pace-pressing maiden win.

Making his first start since then, Tourist quickly grabbed the lead in a one-mile preliminary allowance on the Widener course and rolled by nearly six lengths in a blistering 1:33.30, earning a 98 Beyer.

HORSES TO WATCH

GUGGENHEIM
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: June 8, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 4 1/4
Beyer: 74

After meeting a recent allowance winner in his debut at Santa Anita two months earlier, he chased an odds-on winner and clearly bested the rest off a cross-country ship and a two-month layoff.