A highly competitive affair with the vote going to FIRST PREMIO (NAP). He returns to action having been beaten less than a length in the Grade 1 Shadwell mile at Keeneland in October and Mark Casse’s charge looks sure to make a bold bid in this. Colonist has been gelded since last in action and is capable of getting involved at this level and so is stablemate Halladay though the latter has a wide draw to contend with. Penalty beat the latter at Saratoga last summer while Kroy showed good progress last year and Dr. Shane beat Class And Cash a neck in allowance company here in January.
Colonist (USA) 5-1 (8-9) Steadied 3/8,weakened, last of 8, 8 1/2l behind Kencumin (8-9) at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Nov.
Kroy (USA) 11-2 (8-10) 2wd bid tn,kept on, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Driven By Thunder (8-10) at Gulfstream 1m gd in Jun.
First Premio (USA) 28-1 (9-0) 8path 1/4, gaining, 4th of 14, 3/4l behind Bowies Hero (9-0) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Dr. Shane (USA) 15-1 (8-11) Off slow start,mild bd, 6th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Aquaphobia (8-7) at Gulfstream 1m stks gd in Feb.
Mai Ty One On (USA) 10-1 (8-6) Rail trip, improved, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Faction Cat (8-10) at Tampa Bay Downs 5f stks gd in Feb.
Thunder Ride (USA) 22-1 (8-9) Pace,vied 1/8p,gavewy, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Dr. Shane (8-9) at Gulfstream 7f gd in Jan.
Class And Cash (USA) 11-1 (8-7) Prolonged presure,wknd, 4th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Aquaphobia (8-7) at Gulfstream 1m stks gd in Feb.
Penalty (USA) 28-1 (8-9) Circle 4wd 2nd,edgd by, won at Gulfstream 1m gd in Feb beating Largent (8-9) by hd, 12 ran.
Regally Irish (USA) 25-1 (8-6) Never a threat, 6th of 7, shd behind Looking At Bikinis (8-6) at Keeneland 7f fst in Oct.
Halladay (USA) 7-2 (8-5) Pressed3w,duckd,bumped, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Admiralty Pier (8-5) at Tampa Bay Downs 1m stks gd in Feb.
Ice Tea (USA) 12-5fav (8-9) Off trio,5wd into lane, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Dalarna (8-7) at Gulfstream 1m stks gd in Feb.
Majestic Dunhill (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Rail, rallied, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Cordmaker (9-0) at Laurel Park 7f stks fst in Jun.