The 2011 renewal was below par and it has to be said this year's contest doesn't look any better. GAME ON DUDE finished runner-up at Churchill Downs in last season's Classic but, given he's unbeaten in five starts at this track including a Grade 1 event here last time, Bob Baffert's charge gets the vote to go one better this time around. Flat Out was last year's disappointing favourite and he and Fort Larned have been taking it in turns to beat each other. The former came out best at Belmont on their latest meeting when Ron The Greek was well beaten. The hard to predict To Honor And Serve never threatened winning stablemate Drosselmeyer in last year's running but just got the better of Mucho Macho Man at Saratoga in September while Richard's Kid and Nonios finished behind the selection at this track last time. Alpha had been progressing well before a below par effort behind Handsome Mike when odds-on at Parx on his latest start and could be thereabouts.
Pool Play (USA) 16-1 (8-2) Bid 5w 3/16,long drive, won at Hawthorne(USA) 1m 2f Grp 2 hcp (1) in Oct beating Cease (8-4) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Flat Out (USA) 7-2 (9-0) 3w upper, up near wire, won at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 in Sep beating Stay Thirsty (9-0) by hd, 10 ran.
Alpha (USA) 7-10fav (8-12) Rated, led, weakened, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Handsome Mike (8-2) at Philadelphia Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 2 in Sep.
Fort Larned (USA) 14-5fav (9-0) 4w to 1/2, tired, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Flat Out (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 in Sep.
Game On Dude (USA) 3-10fav (8-12) Led into lane,clear, won at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep beating Nonios (8-4) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Brilliant Speed (USA) 13-5 (8-5) Off inside, no match, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Air Support (8-6) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Handsome Mike (USA) 18-1 (8-2) Vied outside,edged off, won at Philadelphia Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 2 in Sep beating Macho Macho (8-10) by 2l, 8 ran.
Nonios (USA) 10-1 (8-4) Stalked pace,2nd best, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Game On Dude (8-12) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Richard's Kid (USA) 6-1 (8-7) Came out str,late 3rd, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Game On Dude (8-12) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Ron The Greek (USA) 3-1 (9-0) To rail 1/2, no menace, 6th of 10, 12l behind Flat Out (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 in Sep.
Mucho Macho Man (USA) 4-5fav (9-0) Carried out late, 2nd of 7, nk behind To Honor And Serve (9-0) at Saratoga(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
To Honor And Serve (USA) 11-10fav (8-9) Lite bump brk, 3 wide, 4th of 9, 9l behind Jersey Town (8-4) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.