The defection through injury of Lord Nelson has left Bob Baffert with just the one representative in DREFONG. The three-year-old speedster remains unbeaten in three starts this year after successfully making all to land his first Grade 1 success in the Kings Bishop at Saratoga in August and there should be more to come from him. Both Noholdingback Bear and Mind Your Biscuits have plenty to find with the selection but the East Coast’s top sprinter, A. P. Indian, arrives in flying form having won five on the bounce and beating Limousine Liberal and Delta Bluesman in the process. He’s not out of this and neither is Masochistic, who has returned to form after a disastrous run in last year’s renewal with a couple of wire-to-wire victories including a Grade 2 at Del Mar in August - he could go very close.
Mind Your Biscuits (USA) 15-2 (8-10) Wide lane, late surge, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Noholdingback Bear (8-8) at Philadelphia Park 6f stks (1) fst in Sep.
Drefong (USA) 17-5fav (8-5) Coaxed 3-2w, drew clr, won at Saratoga 7f stks fst in Aug beating Economic Model (8-5) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
Delta Bluesman (USA) 4-5fav (8-8) Lacked room, angle in, won at Philadelphia Park 5f stks fst in Sep beating Pomeroy's Package (8-12) by 1l, 5 ran.
A. P. Indian (USA) 2-5fav (8-12) Long drive, won nod, won at Keeneland 6f stks fst in Oct beating Limousine Liberal (8-8) by shd, 7 ran.
Masochistic (USA) 1-5fav (8-9) Bit off rail,handily, won at Del Mar 7f stks fst in Aug beating Vyjack (8-7) by 3 3/4l, 3 ran.
Noholdingback Bear (USA) 3-1jfav (8-8) Eased back, wide,clear, won at Philadelphia Park 6f stks (1) fst in Sep beating Mind Your Biscuits (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Limousine Liberal (USA) 6-1 (8-8) Long drive, missed nod, 2nd of 7, shd behind A. P. Indian (8-12) at Keeneland 6f stks fst in Oct.
Joking (USA) 4-1 (8-12) 6w upper, good finish, won at Belmont Park 6f stks fst in Oct beating Stallwalkin' Dude (8-12) by 1l, 7 ran.
Lord Nelson (USA) 1-2fav (8-13) 3wd into str,led 1/16, won at Santa Anita 6f stks fst in Oct beating All Run (8-9) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.