Philadelphia: Host goes long again

Host and In Hand, a pair of 4-year-old colts whose fortunes improved when they moved to the turf, will try to retain their good marathon form in Saturday's $100,000 Greenwood Cup Handicap.

The 1 1/2-mile Greenwood is the feature on a program that also includes the Lyman Sprint Championship Handicap for Pennsylvania-breds.

Host was just 1 for 10 in his career until trainer John Kimmel tried him in a 12-furlong grass allowance in March. He proceeded to win back-to-back starts at Gulfstream Park, earning Beyer Speed Figures of 88 and 86, but was a bit overmatched when he made his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Elkhorn at Keeneland last time out. The competition in the Greenwood Cup may be more to his liking.

In Hand began his career 1 for 4 on dirt, then won a grass stakes at Monmouth Park last summer and has been strictly a turf horse ever since. His best races have come in his last two starts, both at 1 1/2 miles, in which he posted Beyers of 94 and 96.

Other contenders include Something Rushing, who ran well in several long-distance turf races in Kentucky and Southern California last season; Speed of Light, who has put together three consecutive 90-plus Beyers at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park; and Brinton Bridge, a 9-year-old who has run regularly in steeplechase events longer than two miles, but went 2 for 2 in non-hurdle races last season.

The $50,000 Lyman Sprint field features Northern Air, the 15-1 upset winner of last year's Gallant Bob Handicap against open company, and Roger E, who romped in last summer's seven-furlong Devils Honor.