Bob Baffert has won two of the last four runnings and CAVE ROCK has been earning major plaudits for the style of his three wins on the West Coast. A Grade 1 winner at both Del Mar and Santa Anita, his speed figures suggest he’s a cut above these. Forte looks the main threat having landed his second Grade 1 contest when scoring over track and trip having earlier beaten a below-par Blazing Sevens at Saratoga. The latter went on to win the Champagne Stakes at Belmont but the likes of National Treasure, Verifying and Lost Ark all have something to find with the principals.
Hurricane J (USA) 4-1 (8-10) Duel ins,shk clear upr, won at Keeneland 6f fst in Oct beating Prove Right (8-10) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Congruent (USA) 10-1 (8-10) Inside bid,eager,drvng, won at Laurel Park 1m stks fm in Oct beating Otago (8-10) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cave Rock (USA) 2-5fav (8-10) Pace,shook free upper, won at Santa Anita 1m Grp 1 stks (1) fst in Oct beating National Treasure (8-10) by 5 1/4l, 8 ran.
Forte (USA) 17-4 (8-10) 4w2nd,bid,duelupr,brsh, won at Keeneland 1m Grp 1 (1) fst in Oct beating Loggins (8-10) by nk, 14 ran.
Verifying (USA) 9-4 (8-10) Track 2p, led, ran on, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Blazing Sevens (8-10) at Belmont At The Big A 1m stks fst in Oct.
Blazing Sevens (USA) 17-2 (8-10) 5w upper, edged clear, won at Belmont At The Big A 1m stks fst in Oct beating Verifying (8-10) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Wound Up (USA) 22-1 (8-8) Bk slw,blockd3/16,altr, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Speed Boat Beach (8-8) at Santa Anita 5f stks gd in Oct.
Lost Ark (USA) 6-1 (8-10) Steady early,check3/16, 6th of 14, 10l behind Forte (8-10) at Keeneland 1m Grp 1 (1) fst in Oct.
Curly Jack (USA) 10-1 (8-10) 3wbtw,4w2nd,bid,cleard, won at Churchill Downs 1m stks fst in Sep beating Honed (8-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
National Treasure (USA) 19-2 (8-10) 2-3wd to lane,clrd 2nd, 2nd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Cave Rock (8-10) at Santa Anita 1m Grp 1 stks (1) fst in Oct.