Coil won a Grade 1 sprint over C&D last month beating Capital Account by a neck with Jimmy Creed and Amazombie in close attendance. That looks a red hot trial for this especially as the latter won last year's renewal. Those four are hard to separate so it could pay to look elsewhere and THE LUMBER GUY is worth a second glance. The lightly-raced three-year-old posted his best effort so far to win the Vosburgh Stakes in New York in September but there was no fluke about it as he had previous Grade 1 winner Poseidon's Warrior back in third. Michael Hushion's grey might just be good enough to land this. Smiling Tiger has been unable to match last year's high-class form so far this season but it's interesting that Bob Baffert returns the unbeaten Fast Bullet to action at this level on the back of a couple of fast workouts at the track.
Sum Of The Parts (USA) 9-2 (8-8) Near rail, lasted late, won at Keeneland(USA) 6f Group 3 stks (3yo+) in Oct beating Noble's Promise (8-8) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Jimmy Creed (USA) 7-1 (8-6) Angled in str,willing, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Coil (8-7) at Santa Anita(USA) 6f fll stks Grp 1 in Oct.
Gantry (USA) 3-10fav (8-12) Moved out, 2nd best, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Delaunay (8-12) at Louisiana Downs(USA) 6f 3yo stks in Sep.
Coil (USA) 15-2 (8-7) 4wd into str,held game, won at Santa Anita(USA) 6f fll stks Grp 1 in Oct beating Capital Account (8-7) by hd, 7 ran.
Justin Phillip (USA) 14-5 (8-12) Off inside, no menace, 6th of 10, 7l behind The Lumber Guy (8-10) at Belmont Park(USA) 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Fast Bullet (USA) 3-10fav (8-10) 3wd bid,ridden out, won at Hollywood Park(USA) 6f 3yo stks in Nov '11 beating Wall Dance (8-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
The Lumber Guy (USA) 2-1fav (8-10) 3w,vigorous hand ride, won at Belmont Park(USA) 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep beating Caixa Eletronica (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Capital Account (USA) 7-1 (8-7) 5wd into lane,rallied, 2nd of 7, hd behind Coil (8-7) at Santa Anita(USA) 6f fll stks Grp 1 in Oct.
Trinniberg (USA) 11-5 (8-10) Three wide, led, game, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Well Spelled (8-10) at Philadelphia Park(USA) 6f 3yo stks in Sep.
Smiling Tiger (USA) 3-1 (8-7) 3wd to turn,wkened, 5th of 9, 11l behind Camp Victory (8-4) at Betfair Hollywood Park(USA) 7f Group 1 stks (4yo+) in Jun.
Amazombie (USA) 4-5fav (8-12) 3wd into str,bid btwn, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Coil (8-7) at Santa Anita(USA) 6f fll stks Grp 1 in Oct.
Hamazing Destiny (USA) 16-1 (8-12) 3 wide, good kick, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Emcee (8-12) at Saratoga(USA) 7f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Poseidon's Warrior (USA) 13-2 (8-12) To rail 7/16,held well, 3rd of 10, 3l behind The Lumber Guy (8-10) at Belmont Park(USA) 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Boxeur Des Rues (USA) 16-1 (8-6) Awkward start,6wd lane, 6th of 13, 3l behind Unbridled's Note (8-3) at Santa Anita(USA) 6f Group 3 stks (3yo+) in Sep.
