Yesbyjimminy a solid favorite

MIAMI - Yesbyjimminy has never raced beyond six furlongs and will have to concede weight to all nine of his rivals in Saturday's $150,000 Foolish Pleasure Breeders' Cup. But those factors are not likely to keep the betting public from making the undefeated juvenile the solid favorite in the one mile and 70-yard Foolish Pleasure, which highlights Calder's 13-race Festival of the Sun Preview card.

Yesbyjimminy has used his high speed to win each of his first three starts, including the five-furlong Fasig Tipton Dash on Sept. 2. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.'s main concern coming into the Foolish Pleasure was Yesbyjimminy's ability to carry his speed around two turns, but after watching Yesbyjimminy work a mile in 1:42.60 over a good track last week, his fears were alleviated.

"That's as good as it gets for a 2-year-old working a mile around here," Plesa said.

Yesbyjimminy will break from the rail under regular rider Abel Castellano Jr. and is certain to be among the early leaders in a field loaded with speed.

El Bandido Rojo figures to provide the favorite with his stiffest early challenge after having set the pace in both the six-furlong Dr. Fager and seven-furlong Affirmed divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes.

Green Vegas, who rallied from just off the pace to finish a game third in the Affirmed, and Five Towns, who chased and finished just a half-length behind Yesbyjimminy in the Fasig Tipton, should also be close to the front in their two-turn debuts.

Cat Tour, who led from gate to wire en route to an impressive 10 1/2-length victory going a mile over the sloppy track earlier this month in the Seacliff Stakes, has been purchased privately since the race for an undisclosed amount and will run in the interests of The White Stable in the Foolish Pleasure. He may also have to deploy different tactics after drawing the outside post in a field of 10.

"To be honest, his last race was kind of a surprise, since you never really know what to expect going from five furlongs to a mile," said David Braddy, who remains the trainer of record on Saturday.

"We have a lot more speed in there on Saturday, and while I'm not crazy about the outside post, at least we'll be able to see what the others do without forcing our hand too much right from the outset, and he did prove he could win from off the pace when breaking his maiden."