Parx: J J's Lucky Train, Poseidon's Warrior clash in Valley Forge

A pair of 3-year-old sprinters who excelled in stakes company, one early in the year and the other in the second half of 2011, will clash for the first time in Tuesday’s $75,000 Valley Forge Stakes at Parx Racing.

J J’s Luckytrain, winner of the Grade 3 Bay Shore in early April and the listed Miracle Wood in late February, will return from a 3 1/2-month absence against Poseidon’s Warrior, a three-time stakes winner since July 30, in the six-furlong Valley Forge.

J J’s Lucky Train, locally based with Bill Anderson, gets back to his preference for one-turn races following a summer experiment in which he finished a close fourth in the Grade 1 Haskell going 1 1/8 miles and a distant sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones at his home track. The Smarty Jones produced four next-out winners.

J J’s Lucky Train was scratched from both the seven-furlong Bold Ruler in early November and the $200,000 Six Bits Handicap at Penn National 2 1/2 weeks later. He indicated his fitness by working a bullet five furlongs in 1:01 a week ago. On the down side, Anderson is 0 for 19 with sprinters making a comeback after an absence of 61 to 180 days.[bc_video_id:240614:]

In contrast, Poseidon’s Warrior owns sharp recent form, with consistent Beyer Speed Figures of 99, 101, and 101 in his last three starts, highlighted by daylight wins in the Le Bagoter for 3-year-olds at Penn National and the restricted New Castle at Delaware Park. He also romped in the $100,000 East Hanover for 3-year-olds at Penn National in late July.

Royal Currier, the last horse to finish ahead of Poseidon’s Warrior, will take another crack at him. Royal Currier soared to a 109 Beyer winning the $250,000 Gallant Bob by 3 3/4 lengths as an 18-1 outsider, but regressed to an 85 and a 92 in two subsequent starts. He most recently set fast fractions before fading to second behind Poseidon's Warrior in the Le Bagoter.

The eight-horse field also includes Sunrise Smarty, winner of the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct under 130 pounds last time out.