Rivers Run Deep stands out in Babst/Palacios Memorial

Rivers Run Deep, 4 for 4 sprinting against Ohio-bred stakes company last season, towers over his competition when he returns to the statebred ranks following a solid early-season campaign in Arkansas for Saturday’s $75,000 Edward Babst/Albert Palacios Memorial Handicap at Belterra Park.

While his competition in the six-furlong, restricted stakes has been recording Beyer Speed Figures in the mid-50s to low 60s, Rivers Run Deep has reeled off seven consecutive Beyers ranging from 83 to 92. That includes a 5 1/4-length score in the $150,000 Best of Ohio Sprint at Belterra last fall and a win and three good seconds against high-priced optional claimers at Oaklawn Park to launch his 4-year-old campaign.

It looks like the other seven horses are competing for second money. The most likely candidate to complete the exacta is City Slammer, who makes his 4-year-old and stakes debut after finishing first or second in 11 of 14 starts last year.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Rivers Run Deep (Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-88)

◗ He looks far too fast to lose in what looks like a soft spot. His only loss in six starts against Ohio-breds last year came when he was asked to go 1 1/8 miles in the Cleveland Gold Cup.

City Slammer (Last 3 Beyers: 64-44-41)

◗ He closed out his 3-year-old campaign with back-to-back wins at Mahoning Valley. He ships to Belterra for the first time for high-percentage trainer Bob Gorham.

Silver Tongued (Last 3 Beyers: 67-64-71)

◗ His best race last year came when he won the Governor’s Buckeye Cup going 1 1/4 miles.

◗ He finished a distant second while returning from a long break in a sprint locally last May.

Smoke Em Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 57-63-66)

◗ He has been consistent when running against statebred optional claimers, including two wins to launch his 2015 campaign at Mahoning Valley, but was a dull seventh when he tried stakes company in this race a year ago.

Pretty Much Mine (Last 3 Beyers: 51-60-48)

◗ This 6-year-old has good early speed and is 4 for 7 at Belterra, but she’s a mare stepping up in class to challenge males.