O'Brien colts appear tops

Two members of Aidan O'Brien's powerful team of juvenile colts, Ivan Denisovich and Art Museum, head the lineup for the Group 1, $310,000 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

O'Brien has won three of the last five runnings of the six-furlong Middle Park, and either of his two entries Friday would rate a favorite's chance should the other not run.

Ivan Denisovich has won the Group 2 July Stakes but was only two lengths second to Silca's Sister in the Group 1 Prix Morny last time out on Aug. 21.

Art Museum won a 26-runner Curragh maiden race in his debut, then followed with a two-length score in the listed Blenheim Stakes at the same track. Those were the same two races won last year by Ad Valorem coming into his Middle Park triumph, and they could propel Art Museum into the winner's circle on Friday.

Prince of Light, on the crest of a three-race winning streak, wouldn't have to improve very much off his Sept. 3 victory in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes to reap first prize.