DIXIE S. (G2), 10TH-PIM, $250,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8MT, 4:22 P.M. EDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 SHAKE THE BANK MOTION H GRAHAM TURNER T G 118
2 DREADNAUGHT VOSS THOMAS H SOLIS A 118
3 BETTER TALK NOW MOTION H GRAHAM DOMINGUEZ R A 124
4 DR DETROIT MERRYMAN ANN W NAPRAVNIK ANNA 118
5 SABRE D'ARGENT ALBERTRANI THOMAS CASTELLANO J J 118
6 REBEL REBEL (IRE) DUTROW RICHARD E PRADO E S 118
7 ARTIE SCHILLER JERKENS JAMES A GOMEZ G K 124

Saturday's $250,000 Dixie S. (G2) marks the return to action of 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hero BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man), who has not raced since his unsuccessful foray to the Far East for the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) last November. In last year's running of this 1 1/8-mile turf affair at Pimlico, the Graham Motion charge was compromised by the early crawl and wound up fourth, after which his connections acquired the speedy SHAKE THE BANK (Sandpit [Brz]) to serve as his rabbit. Although the injection of pace ought to help Better Talk Now here, ironically, it should also benefit Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) king ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]), who was second in last year's Dixie. It's hard not to see this contest as a rematch between the 124-pound co-highweights, but there are a couple of other contenders who could crash the party at their best.

While Artie Schiller's BRIS Speed figures have equaled or topped the century mark 11 times in a row, his best performances have come when he can relax behind an honest pace before swooping to victory. That's how he won the Breeders' Cup Mile, the 2005 Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2) at Keeneland and the 2004 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame H. (G2) at Saratoga. In contrast, when he's slogging it out near the front through slow fractions, he's looked more vulnerable. That's how he just narrowly lost his 2006 debut in the Maker's Mark in the last stride, and it's how he lost this race in a photo a year ago. With Shake the Bank winging out front, Artie will get the rate-and-pounce scenario he prefers. We'll take Artie to score over Better Talk Now in this spot because the nine-furlong distance is probably his ideal trip (6-4-2-0 record), he's got the benefit of a race under his belt and he's posted two straight solid works coming into this battle. Garrett Gomez will reunite with the James Jerkens charge.

Better Talk Now is more than capable of running well fresh, as he proved when taking the 2005 Fort Marcy H. (G3) in his seasonal reappearance last year. He didn't face anyone the caliber of Artie Schiller on that occasion, however. Although the seven-year-old has compiled a terrific mark at the trip (9-4-1-1), all of those victories came when he was a much younger horse, his most recent success being the 2003 Knickerbocker H. (G2). He's made a name for himself by excelling at 1 3/8 to 1 1/2 miles, so we view this race as the perfect launching pad for his 2006 campaign, a great tightener for bigger prizes down the road. Better Talk Now will unleash his ferocious closing kick with regular rider Ramon Dominguez in the irons.

Of the others, each toting 118 pounds, SABRE D'ARGENT (Kris S.) holds the most appeal and rates as a potential upsetter at 12-1. The six-year-old Darley colorbearer has been sparingly campaigned with only eight lifetime starts on his resume, the first five in England where he won a Group 3 contest in 2003. Since coming to America and taking up residence with Tom Albertrani, he has run respectably, winning an off-the-turf allowance/optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs in his debut, checking in fifth in the Pan American H. (G3) after being rank early and racing wide, and closing strongly for a sneakily good third in the Fort Marcy last time out. In that race, he was bounced around like a pinball after the break, settled well off a dawdling pace, then lengthened stride beautifully late to miss second in a photo. He earned a 110 Late Pace rating for that effort, which was all the more commendable considering that he was cutting back sharply in trip from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/16 miles. With a strong pace up front, Sabre d'Argent figures to relax kindly and come charging in the stretch, where that six-pound advantage in the weights could come into play. Javier Castellano, who rode him in the Pan American, returns to the saddle.

DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet) is a classy, multiple Grade 2-winning turf veteran who captured the Laurel Turf Cup S. at this trip in November. That, coupled with his performance in the 1 3/8-mile Red Smith H. (G2) one week earlier, in which he loomed up boldly only to flatten out late, suggests that he may prefer a shorter distance at this stage of his career. The Thomas Voss charge warmed up for this engagement with an eighth in the 1 1/2-mile Elkhorn S. (G3) at Keeneland in his 2006 debut, and he's another who will relish a strong early pace. Alex Solis picks up the mount. English stakes winner REBEL REBEL (Ire) (Revoque)'s career highlight was his second in last year's English Two Thousand Guineas S. (Eng-G1), but he hasn't duplicated that kind of effort stateside. In fact, in five U.S. starts, his Speed figures have yet to crack the century mark. Note that Edgar Prado, who partnered him to a runner-up finish last time out in the Lure S., will stick with the four-year-old from the ever dangerous Richard Dutrow barn.

Pimlico-based DR DETROIT (Wayne County [Ire]) is taking an Everest-style rise in class. Shake the Bank will do his duty for entrymate Better Talk Now before calling it a day somewhere on the far turn.

1st-ARTIE SCHILLER
2nd-BETTER TALK NOW
3rd-SABRE D'ARGENT


PETER PAN S. (G2), 8TH-BEL, $200,000, 3YO, 1 1/8M, 4:48 P.M. EDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 SCANLON'S SONG KLANFER ALAN FRAGOSO P 116
2 SUNRIVER PLETCHER TODD A BEJARANO R 116
3 ICE N LEMON ZITO NICHOLAS P HILL C 116
4 HESANOLDSALT ZITO NICHOLAS P SANTOS J A 116
5 LEWIS MICHAEL CATALANO WAYNE M GUIDRY M 116
6 TESTIMONY *SUROOR SAEED BIN COA E M 116
7 STRONG CONTENDER WARD JOHN T JR SMITH M E 116
8 REALLY INDIAN DRYSDALE NEIL VELASQUEZ CORNE 116
9 HARBORAGE CONTESSA GARY C LUZZI M J 116

Saturday's Peter Pan S. (G2) could play an important role in the outcome of the June 10 Belmont S. (G1). SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado), STRONG CONTENDER (Maria's Mon) and LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy) were all excluded from running in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and they could use the one-turn, nine-furlong Peter Pan as a stepping stone to the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

Sunriver came to hand nicely this spring, winning a nine-furlong allowance race with a final furlong in :12 2/5 at Gulfstream Park. Off that performance, the dark bay colt was sent postward at odds of 4-1 for the Florida Derby (G1). That day, he advanced nicely from the far outside on the backstretch, continued his rally while four wide around the second turn, then finished extremely well for third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Barbaro (Dynaformer) and Sharp Humor (Distorted Humor). Sunriver trained forwardly in Louisville for a possible start in the Kentucky Derby and it's understandable why trainer Todd Pletcher was disappointed that he did not get the opportunity to run the colt in the 1 1/4-mile classic. Sunriver is the one to beat.

Strong Contender easily broke his maiden last summer at Arlington Park then reappeared in late February at Gulfstream Park, winning a one-mile allowance event in a quick 1:34 3/5. After being excluded from the Lane's End S. (G2) at Turfway Park, the chestnut colt was entered in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland. Strong Contender was compromised at the start of that nine-furlong affair and made a run at the freaky front-runner Sinister Minister (Old Trieste) on the far turn before weakening in the lane. The John Ward-trained colt projects a forwardly placed trip and likely will be hard to catch.

Lewis Michael and HARBORAGE (Monarchos) rate our longshot specials.

Lewis Michael has always displayed a high level of talent. Trained by Wayne Catalano, the bay colt finished a good third to Barbaro in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) on New Year's Day and then had troubled trips in the grassy Hallandale Beach S. and Illinois Derby (G2). In the latter, Lewis Michael was pinned along the rail with nowhere to go, got checked out of a tight spot near the five-sixteenths pole, then finished evenly in a mild drive. He has trained well since and should offer attractive odds.

Harborage broke his maiden going two turns with a powerful late turn of foot at Tampa Bay Downs. The Gary Contessa trainee closed belatedly for third in the 1 1/16-mile OBS Championship S. at the Ocala Training Center, then offered a sustained run from the outside before settling for runner-up honors behind a loose-on-the-lead runner going nine furlongs at Aqueduct in his last start, earning a 103 BRIS Speed rating. The dark bay colt drilled four furlongs around the dogs in a bullet :46 3/5 over a muddy track at Aqueduct on Wednesday and could surprise at a price.

REALLY INDIAN (A.P. Indy) settled well off the pace and then came running along the rail before angling out and drawing off to an authoritative 5 1/2-length score in his debut at Santa Anita in late January. It's remarkable that the normally conservative Neil Drysdale chose this spot for the colt's return. He is worth a second look. TESTIMONY (Yes It's True) finished a good second to stablemate Discreet Cat (Forestry) in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) and liked to show speed as a juvenile last year. We're going to take a stand against at 6-1 on the morning line.

The Nick Zito-trained HESANOLDSALT (Broad Brush) attended the early running before weakening in the Florida Derby. The dark bay colt has some upset potential at large odds. ICE N LEMON (Acceptable), who is also trained by Zito, won a two-turn allowance event at Keeneland in his last start and is hard to recommend at this level. SCANLON'S SONG (Partner's Hero) could not threaten against lesser and seems ambitiously spotted here.

1st-SUNRIVER
2nd-STRONG CONTENDER
3rd-LEWIS MICHAEL


MARYLAND BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT H. (G3), 9TH-PIM, $200,000, 3YO/UP, 6F, 3:37 P.M. EDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 CRAFTY SCHEMER FELICIANO BEN M JR DOMINGUEZ R A 114
2 KAZOO DUTROW RICHARD E MIGLIORE R 120
3 GAFF ASMUSSEN STEVEN M SOLIS A 116
4 FRIENDLY ISLAND PLETCHER TODD A GOMEZ G K 116
5 CELTIC INNIS KEEFE TIMOTHY L NO RIDER 111
6 BETTER THAN BONDS MOTION H GRAHAM PRADO E S 115
7 GOLD CLUSTER GROVE CHRISTOPHER W FOGELSONGER R 111

A field of seven is entered for Saturday's $200,000 Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint H. (G3) at Pimlico. KAZOO (Tabasco Cat) has good early speed and comes off a good second in the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. (G2) at Keeneland after leading for most of that one. Two back, the Richard Dutrow-trained eight-year-old annexed the Toboggan H. (G3) over Aqueduct's inner track over eventual Carter H. (G1) winner Bishop Court Hill (Holy Bull). The chestnut has garnered century-topping BRIS Speed figures in each of his last four outings and must be respected. Richard Migliore will ride.

GAFF (Maria's Mon) is unraced since running fifth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in March. Prior to that one, the Steven Asmussen charge captured the Mr. Prospector H. (G3), and has proven successful at six furlongs (5-3-0-1). The four-year-old bay is a good candidate to have his picture taken in the winner's circle. Alex Solis has the call.

Until running eighth in the Commonwealth last out, CRAFTY SCHEMER (Crafty Prospector) hadn't run worse than second in six attempts since moving to the shedrow of Ben Feliciano. However, that one can be thrown out as it came at Keeneland, and he may have not handled that track. The seven-year-old gelding earned a 117 Speed rating two back when dominating allowance/optional claiming foes by 8 1/4 lengths. Keep in mind for the gimmicks under Ramon Dominguez.

FRIENDLY ISLAND (Crafty Friend) excels at this distance, annexing five in nine attempts, and the classy Todd Pletcher trainee is a threat, especially with hot jockey Garrett Gomez in the irons.

GOLD CLUSTER (Formal Gold) finished a well-beaten 11th in the Frank J. de Francis Memorial Dash (G1) in November, but has put in several decent performances since, including a seven-length score over allowance/optional claiming rivals two back. In that one, the five-year-old chestnut came from next to last and earned an eye-catching 120 BRIS Late Pace rating. Watch for this one to come running into contention late with Ryan Fogelsonger in the irons.

BETTER THAN BONDS (Sweetsouthernsaint) came home a close second at Churchill Downs last out and could improve in his second start for trainer Graham Motion. Although proven successful at Pimlico during his career (6-3-1-1), CELTIC INNIS (Yarrow Brae) has failed to produce a victorious result in his last five starts against lesser company and the increase in class will not help.

1st-KAZOO
2nd-GAFF
3rd-CRAFTY SCHEMER


LAZARO BARRERA MEMORIAL S. (G2), 9TH-HOL, $150,000, 3YO, 7F, 5:15 P.M. PDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 REMEMBERING STAR MITCHELL MIKE GRYDER A T 113
2 QUIETLY GO BAFFERT BOB ESPINOZA V 115
3 CORAZONDELCAMPEON LA CROIX DAVID NAKATANI C S 120
4 GHAZWAN BACORN HERBERT L COHEN DAVID 113
5 GET FUNKY SADLER JOHN W GARCIA MARTIN 113
6 NORTHERN SOLDIER KORINER BRIAN ROLLINS C J 115
7 JEALOUS PROFIT O'NEILL DOUG VALENZUELA P A 113
8 ARSON SQUAD HEADLEY BRUCE VALDIVIA J JR 120
9 HEY SLICK OWENS R KORY COURT J K 117

A field of nine three-year-old males will head to the gate for the $150,000 Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G2) at seven furlongs on Saturday at Hollywood Park, and QUIETLY GO (Real Quiet) will attempt to make it three in a row. The Bob Baffert trainee finished a close second in his debut before taking his next two, earning a 102 BRIS Speed figure last out for an allowance/optional claiming win. Quietly Go has a wait-and-see racing tactic, which should benefit the dark bay if quick fractions develop early between REMEMBERING STAR (Wild Wonder) and NORTHERN SOLDIER (Yankee Victor), who both possess good early speed. Victor Espinoza will ride.

CORAZONDELCAMPEON (Comic Strip) comes off a victorious effort on the turf in the Harry Henson S. last out for trainer David La Croix. The bay colt stretches out past 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time, but the added distance should not be a problem. Corazondelcampeon annexed his first start at the Inglewood, California, track and should compete well again here Saturday. Corey Nakatani has the call.

JEALOUS PROFIT (Trippi) exits a sixth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G2) last out. While competing against some of the top horses of his age group, Jealous Profit has only one win under his belt, that coming in a maiden race two back. He drops back to a distance at which he is more suited and should be good for the top three under Patrick Valenzuela.

ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) defeated multiple stakes winner Da Stoops (Distorted Humor) in the San Pedro S. last out and has been rounding into form for conditioner Bruce Headley and should make a good showing with Jose Valdivia in the saddle. Northern Soldier is undefeated in two starts for conditioner Brian Koriner. He could be hindered if he tries to compete early up front, but the bay colt displayed good rating tactics last out, which provided positive results. Your call.

GET FUNKY (Straight Man) was claimed out of his last start and makes his debut for trainer John Sadler. He has been working consistently since the barn change and switches to a high percentage jockey in Martin Garcia. Still, Get Funky makes a good jump in class and we will just watch for now. GHAZWAN (Yes It's True) also comes off a claim and makes his first start for trainer Herbert Bacorn. Again, we will watch.

Remembering Star just broke his maiden last out in his fourth try and appears to be outclassed in this one. HEY SLICK (Society Max) has not produced the numbers needed for us to pick him in the top three.

1st-QUIETLY GO
2nd-CORAZONDELCAMPEON
3rd-JEALOUS PROFIT


GALLORETTE H. (G3), 7TH-PIM, $100,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1 1/16MT, 2:06 P.M. EDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 TOPIARY SMITH HAMILTON A NO RIDER 111
2 OZONE BERE (FR) CLEMENT CHRISTOPHE CASTELLANO J J 115
3 ART FAN SMITH HAMILTON A FOGELSONGER R 114
4 LAURAFINA BARBARA ROBERT DESORMEAUX K J 114
5 MISS AUDREY MOTION H GRAHAM NAPRAVNIK ANNA 111
6 QUEEN SUPREME GARCIA CARLOS A GARCIA LUIS 111
7 ERNABEL CLARK KIMBERLY JOYCE JONATHAN 112
8 ZONA (ITY) MATZ MICHAEL R SOLIS A 115
9 THETACTICS OFDANCE MOTT WILLIAM I NO RIDER 114
10 MY TYPHOON (IRE) MOTT WILLIAM I PRADO E S 120
11 HUMORISTIC SMITH HAMILTON A DOMINGUEZ R A 115
12 AMORAMA (FR) FRANKEL ROBERT J GOMEZ G K 118
13 FEELIN' THE BREEZE ELAMRI HASSAN JUAREZ C 110
14 SMART N CLASSY TAMMARO JOHN J III KARAMANOS H A 115

The $100,000 Gallorette H. (G3) at Pimlico on Saturday has drawn a well matched field of 14 distaffers. The 2-1 morning line favorite in the grassy 1 1/16-mile contest, MY TYPHOON (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), is making her seasonal reappearance for horseman Bill Mott. As much respect as we have for this regally bred Grade 2 winner, we think she has a lot to overcome to succeed here in her first start outside of her own age group. She's been assigned top weight of 120 pounds, so she's spotting between two and nine pounds to her rivals, and what's worse, her forward running style has been at a decided disadvantage over this trip on the Pimlico lawn this meet. So we'll take a stab at a big price in this deep group.

OZONE BERE (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]) is far better than her derisory 20-1 morning line odds would imply. The five-time French stakes winner gets Lasix in her U.S. debut for Christophe Clement, who's winning at a healthy 27 percent clip with imports making their American bows. Throw out her last race at Deauville in January, which was run on the all-weather surface that she probably failed to handle. On turf, she's turned in some solid performances, as a quick look at her French form lines reveals. She's twice defeated Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), a subsequent U.S. Grade 2 winner also with Clement. On another occasion, she left Olaya (Theatrical [Ire]), another eventual Grade 2 winner, 6 1/2 lengths behind, and as a juvenile, she beat future American Grade 3 winner Louvain (Ire) (Sinndar). Ozone Bere also raced well against males, beating subsequent Group 3 winner Gold Sound (Green Tune) and going down by a nose to Starpix (Linamix), who two starts later finished second in the Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1). With the turf course favoring closers, she should be able to storm home late beneath her 115-pound impost and Javier Castellano to take the prize.

Multiple Grade 1 queen AMORAMA (Fr) (Sri Pekan) hasn't found the winner's circle since switching to Bobby Frankel three starts back, but she's suffered some troubled trips as well as unsuitably slow pace scenarios. In her latest outing, the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland, she earned a 105 BRIS Late Pace rating when fourth behind Wend (Pulpit), with subsequent Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G3) winner Mirabilis (Lear Fan) just a head in front of her in third. Although we still believe that she needs a longer trip than 1 1/16 miles, we think that the Gallorette, with its abundance of early pace factors, will set up better for her late punch. Garrett Gomez keeps faith with the five-year-old, who receives two pounds from the younger My Typhoon.

Despite the obstacles she's facing, My Typhoon is too classy to ignore altogether. The Grade 1-placed filly is a perfect three-for-three at the distance, including the Hilltop Breeders' Cup S. at Pimlico last May and her 2005 finale, the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Edgar Prado will likely carve out a stalking trip, and we wouldn't be surprised if she strikes the front in upper stretch. The question is whether she'll be able to hold off some pretty tough closers.

ZONA (Ity) (Mr. Greeley) hasn't had things go her way in two starts since her successful U.S. debut, but we expect her to show significant improvement with different tactics. She rated off the pace in her first start for horseman Michael Matz and exploded to a three-length score in an allowance/optional claimer at Calder, posting a 108 Late Pace figure. Zona then adopted pacesetting or pressing tactics in her two stakes tries with unsatisfactory results. Matz was explicit that she was not supposed to be on the front last time in the Jenny Wiley, and he's made a rider change to Alex Solis for this race. At 15-1 in the morning line, this Italian stakes winner could add value to the exotics.

LAURAFINA (Cozzene) peaked over the winter, with a solid win in the Frances A. Genter S. (G3) followed by an excellent second in the Endeavour Breeders' Cup S., leaving a returning Amorama well back in third. After a problem-plagued fifth in the Hillsborough S. (G3), she showed little when fading to last of eight in the Beaugay H. (G3). The gray is eligible to take the honors here if returning to her best, but the evidence of her last two gives cause for pause. SMART N CLASSY (Smart Strike) has a strong record at the distance (10-2-4-1), with one of those victories a Grade 3 event. The John Tammaro III trainee made a smashing reappearance in the Dahlia S. at Laurel, getting up for second behind Grade 1 winner Sweet Talker (Stormin Fever). The six-year-old mare has the credentials to hit the board at an enticing 12-1 in the morning line, although she is parked in post 14. Dahlia third HUMORISTIC (Sefapiano) captured the Violet H. (G3) at 1 1/16 miles last fall, racking up a 100 Speed figure, and she's another who is good enough to get into the gimmicks.

THETACTICS OFDANCE (Tactical Advantage), My Typhoon's stablemate from the Mott barn, is coming off her first stakes success in the Turf Distaff S. at Tampa Bay Downs. She likes the trip (7-2-1-2), but she's facing a saltier bunch here. No rider has been named yet. Graham Motion sends out Keeneland allowance winner MISS AUDREY (Grand Slam) in a tough spot for a stakes debut. She's won three of five career starts, earned a 105 Late Pace rating two races back, and gets the services of apprentice phenom Rosie Napravnik. She figures to be one of the early pace factors here, which can only make her task more difficult.

ART FAN (Lear Fan) and TOPIARY (Arch) are coupled in the wagering. Although the former is more accomplished, neither looks likely to make an impact here. ERNABEL (Power of Mind) is out of her depth. Two probable pace factors, QUEEN SUPREME (King of Kings [Ire]) and FEELIN' THE BREEZE (Belong to Me), have never won or placed in a stakes from a combined 42 lifetime starts.

1st-OZONE BERE (Fr)
2nd-AMORAMA (Fr)
3rd-MY TYPHOON (Ire)


HIRSCH JACOBS S. (G3), 6TH-PIM, $100,000, 3YO, 6F, 1:24 P.M. EDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 MIKE'SGOODANDTOUGH ALLEN RANDY PIMENTEL J 116
2 WE MISS YOU NICKO BAZEOS PETER GARCIA LUIS 116
3 PAGAN MOON ANDERSON JANN P FOGELSONGER R 118
4 RAINBOW INTHESTORM CAPUANO DALE ROCCO J S JR 116
5 VALID BRUSH SMALL RICHARD W SANTANA J Z 116
6 URBAN GUY RITCHEY TIM F WINNETT B G JR 120
7 MY DYNOMITE DUTROW RICHARD E MIGLIORE R 116
8 SONGSTER ALBERTRANI THOMAS PRADO E S 116

Eight three-year-old males will contest the $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs S. (G3) at six furlongs over Pimlico's main track on Saturday. Highlighting the race is Bay Shore S. (G3) runner-up SONGSTER (Songandaprayer) at 8-5 on the morning line, but to offer a little more value we will go with PAGAN MOON (Malibu Moon).

The Jann Anderson trainee exits a 1 1/2-length victory against state-breds over this same course and distance a month ago. The gelding has seen improving BRIS Speed figures throughout his four-race career, coming off a 103 set in the Maryland Stallion Station S. last out and has good rating abilities which should prove useful in a field loaded with speed. Regular jockey Ryan Fogelsonger has the call.

Songster is certainly the classiest of the bunch, running second to Too Much Bling (Rubiano) in the Bay Shore over a sealed, sloppy track. He cuts back in distance to six furlongs for the first time in his career, a move which should benefit the Thomas Albertrani-conditioned black colt. Edgar Prado will retain the mount for this one.

MY DYNOMITE (Lite the Fuse) is unbeaten in two starts and will make his stakes debut here. Although the Richard Dutrow trainee could be compromised by his front-running style, the dark bay is classy enough to hit the board. In both of his starts, My Dynomite has earned triple-digit Speed figures. Richard Migliore will ride.

URBAN GUY (Marquetry) has good tactical rating ability and that should prove useful in this one where quick fractions could be set in the early going. The Tim Ritchey colt exits a solid score in the Francis "Jock" Labelle Memorial S. and has proven useful at six furlongs (4-2-1-0). Ritchey has done rather well with shippers and the chestnut Urban Guy should be kept in mind for the gimmicks.

Although listed at 20-1 on the morning line, VALID BRUSH (Broad Brush) has good late speed and managed to get up in time against allowance rivals last out at 5 1/2 furlongs despite being checked along the turn. He has experience over the Pimlico oval and could surprise at high odds.

RAINBOW INTHESTORM (Storm Boot) is a one-paced runner who is likely to fade in the end. MIKE'SGOODANDTOUGH (Good and Tough) has not been producing the numbers of his rivals and we will bet against. WE MISS YOU NICKO (A. P Jet) was running for a tag three back and will be outclassed here.

1st-PAGAN MOON
2nd-SONGSTER
3rd-MY DYNOMITE


WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER H. (G3), 11TH-PIM, $100,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8M, 5:10 P.M. EDT, 5-20

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 MASTER COMMAND PLETCHER TODD A GOMEZ G K 115
2 SUMMER BOOK O'CALLAGHAN NIALL M DESORMEAUX K J 114
3 PLAY BINGO FISHER JOHN R S FOGELSONGER R 115
4 RECKLESS WAYS GAUDET EDMOND D NAPRAVNIK ANNA 115
5 ANDROMEDA'S HERO ZITO NICHOLAS P PRADO E S 117
6 WATER CANNON ALLEN A FERRIS III GARCIA LUIS 112
7 FUNNY CIDE TAGG BARCLAY MIGLIORE R 117

Seven will line up for the $100,000 William Donald Schaefer H. (G3) at Pimlico on Saturday.

A likely speed contest between FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor) and WATER CANNON (Waquoit) makes this a good scenario for ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) to coming running late for the score. Trained by Nick Zito, the four-year-old chestnut was third in the Alysheba S. last out, earning a 102 BRIS Late Pace figure. He stretches out a bit in distance for this one and should improve. Edgar Prado will be aboard.

Funny Cide got back to his winning ways last out in the Kings Point H. at the Schaefer distance. He has proven very proficient at the 1 1/8 miles which will be run on Saturday, running second two back at that same distance in the Excelsior Breeders' Cup H. (G3) for trainer Barclay Tagg. The gelding's class should put him near the front at the conclusion. Richard Migliore has the call.

RECKLESS WAYS (Level Sands) will attempt to annex his sixth straight win this year. The five-year-old gelding has both good tactical rating speed and the ability to come from way back, as witnessed against allowance/optional claiming company in his last appearance. With a likely speed duel on the front end, watch for the Edmond Gaudet trainee to come late. Hot jockey Rosie Napravnik will ride.

MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy) earned a career high 104 BRIS Speed figure in the Oaklawn H. (G2) when running fourth last out against good company. The Todd Pletcher charge will most likely be seen on the front end early while coming out of the inside post, but also possesses a good late kick and should be kept in mind for the exotics.

PLAY BINGO (Polish Numbers) finished third in his last outing to Reckless Ways and Water Cannon in an allowance/optional claiming race. The five-year-old John Fisher trainee has failed to produce against lesser rivals and we will just watch for now. Water Cannon could be compromised on the front end and we will bet against. SUMMER BOOK (Notebook) has not been posting the same numbers of the other entrants in here and may be a little outclassed in this spot.

1st-ANDROMEDA'S HERO
2nd-FUNNY CIDE
3rd-RECKLESS WAYS