2009 Kentucky Derby hero Mine That Bird is overpriced returned to the dirt, however THISKYHASNOLIMIT looks a safer each way bet. Cash Asmussen's colt ran Lookin At Lucky close in the Indiana Derby and his dirt form this winter for jockey Jamie Theriot looks rock solid; he knows this place well which is another tick in the right box. Crown Of Thorns has questions to answer on dirt, and a bigger threat might be dirt specialist Here Comes Ben. By the sire of Zenyatta, Street Cry, he comes here on the back of a surprise Forego Stakes victory and is now four from four this year. East Coast raider Tizway should race prominently from the get-go and he is three from six in one-turn mile races, whilst Mad Flatter looks another likely to push on from his tidy low draw. Gayego ran well at Santa Anita a year ago but his form needs improving on, so Morning Line looks a big boy in terms of this race as he followed up a Saratoga romp with a battling win in the Pennsylvania Derby. Although there is plenty of pace on here, they would need to go too hard were Mine That Bird to spring an upset.
Dakota Phone (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Came out str,late 3rd, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Richard's Kid (8-12) at Hollywood Park(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Oct.
Tizway (USA) 11-4 (8-3) Bid 1/4, kept busy, won at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 3yo stks in Oct beating Cool Coal Man (8-4) by 5l, 8 ran.
Aikenite (USA) 12-5fav (8-6) Loomed 4 w, drew clear, won at Keeneland(USA) 7f all stks in Oct beating Glenwood Canyon (8-8) by 6l, 12 ran.
Mad Flatter (USA) 15-4 (8-4) Dueled, much best, won at Calder Race Course(USA) 1m Grade 3 hcp (3yo+) (1) in Oct beating Mambo Meister (8-10) by 6l, 9 ran.
Here Comes Ben (USA) 19-2 (8-12) Outside,urged turn,up, won at Saratoga(USA) 7f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep beating Big Drama (8-12) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Gayego (USA) 6-5fav (8-1) Well handled, driving, won at Presque Isle Downs(USA) 1m 3yo stks in Sep beating Successful Dan (8-1) by 2l, 12 ran.
Thiskyhasnolimit (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Clear lead, 2nd best, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Lookin At Lucky (8-12) at Hoosier Park(USA) 1m 3yo Grp 2 (1) in Oct.
Hurricane Ike (USA) 16-10fav (8-12) Soft pace 2w,saved 3rd, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Apart (8-12) at Louisiana Downs(USA) 1m 1f 3yo stks in Sep.
Morning Line (USA) 15-4 (8-2) Off rail,came again, won at Philadelphia Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo fll hcp 0-100 fst in Sep beating First Dude (8-2) by nk, 7 ran.
Mine That Bird (USA) 10-1 (9-0) Empty 2nd turn,faded, last of 7, 22l behind Quality Road (9-0) at Saratoga(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Vineyard Haven (USA) Evensfav (8-12) Angled 1/4pl,no kick, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Here Comes Ben (8-12) at Saratoga(USA) 7f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Cool Coal Man (USA) 8-1 (8-4) Svd ground turn,rally, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Tizway (8-3) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 3yo stks in Oct.
Crown Of Thorns (USA) 11-5 (8-12) Re-bid 3wd 1/16,game, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Richard's Kid (8-12) at Hollywood Park(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Oct.
