Lost in the Fog could be turned loose

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Just when trainer Greg Gilchrist had gotten Lost in the Fog to relax, it may be time for him to summon his colt's brilliant speed again.

drew the rail for Saturday's $150,000 Bay Shore Stakes, perhaps the only knock on the unbeaten 3-year-old who, on paper, towers over his six rivals in the Grade 3 race at seven furlongs. Because Lost in the Fog is such a standout, the New York Racing Association will ban show wagering on the Bay Shore.

Gilchrist and owner Harry Aleo did not nominate Lost in the Fog to the Triple Crown because, they said, they didn't feel they could properly prepare him for a 1 1/4-mile race. Lost in the Fog has yet to race beyond seven furlongs and even a two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race such as the Wood Memorial would not have been the ideal way to go into the Derby, Gilchrist said.

"To go into a race like that off of one two-turn race, which would be what we would be doing, I don't think that's a wise decision," Gilchrist said. "There'll be plenty of two-turn races for him down the road."

Lost in the Fog has already established himself as the best one-turn 3-year-old in the country, and there are plenty of spots for him to continue in that vein.

Lost in the Fog has won his first four starts by 31 lengths and earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in all four of them. In last month's Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream Park, Lost in the Fog rated off More Smoke before overpowering that rival turning for home and drawing clear.

"I would always prefer the horse to come from off the pace a little bit if he could, but if we came to a race where there's no pace, then we can go to the front," Gilchrist said.

Attila's Storm and Lieutenant Danz may possess enough early speed to get in front of Lost in the Fog early. The key then would be for jockey Russell Baze to get Lost in the Fog off the rail and into a stalking position.

Benjamin Baby and Big Top Cat likely stand the best chance of filling out the exacta.