Frankie picks-up a ride in the Classic on Zandon but Chad Brown’s charge was no match for White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga and the latter has been working well here since. Bob Baffert has won this four times with progressive three-year-olds and ARABIAN KNIGHT fits the bill. The winner of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar was having only his fourth start on that occasion and has enough speed to overcome a wide draw. He may get taken on for the lead by another Grade 1 winner in Saudi Crown, who beat Dreamlike in the Pennsylvania Derby, though the latter’s stablemate Bright Future took a big step forward when beating Proxy by a nose in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro is preferred to compatriot Derma Sotogake.
Zandon (USA) Evensfav (8-10) 3-5w turns,rallied,clr, won at Belmont At The Big A 1m 1f stks fst in Oct beating Film Star (8-10) by 4 1/4l, 8 ran.
White Abarrio (USA) 10-1 (8-12) Attended 3p, drew clr, won at Saratoga 1m 1f stks fst in Aug beating Zandon (8-12) by 6 1/4l, 6 ran.
Missed The Cut (USA) 3-5fav (8-12) Ins,angled3w,drew off, won at Santa Anita 1m 4f stks fst in Oct beating Kiss Today Goodbye (9-0) by 5 1/2l, 4 ran.
Derma Sotogake (JPN) 15-2 (9-0) Brushed gate, toiled, 6th of 18, 8l behind Mage (9-0) at Churchill Downs 1m 2f fst in May.
Saudi Crown (USA) 11-10fav (8-8) Rated, wdnd, held game, won at Philadelphia Park 1m 1f fst in Sep beating Dreamlike (8-8) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Clapton (USA) 8-1 (8-11) 4-6w2nd,rally,up late, won at Churchill Downs 1m 1f stks fst in Sep beating Trademark (8-9) by hd, 8 ran.
Ushba Tesoro (JPN) 4-9fav (9-2) won at Funabashi 1m 1f pol in Sep beating Tenkaharu (8-11) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Senor Buscador (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Advncd2w,mvd out str, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Slow Down Andy (8-10) at Santa Anita 1m 1f stks fst in Oct.
Dreamlike (USA) 15-2 (8-8) Swung wide, gained, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Saudi Crown (8-8) at Philadelphia Park 1m 1f fst in Sep.
Bright Future (USA) 15-4 (9-0) 3w uppr, just held on, won at Saratoga 1m 2f stks fst in Sep beating Proxy (9-0) by shd, 8 ran.
Arabian Knight (USA) 2-1fav (8-6) Met bid,clear1/16,held, won at Del Mar 1m 2f stks fst in Sep beating Geaux Rocket Ride (8-6) by nk, 10 ran.
Proxy (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Brush gate,just missed, 2nd of 8, shd behind Bright Future (9-0) at Saratoga 1m 2f stks fst in Sep.
Arcangelo (USA) 13-5 (9-0) 4-5w uppr, gd courage, won at Saratoga 1m 2f stks fst in Aug beating Disarm (9-0) by 1l, 7 ran.