October 24, 2024
TORONTO — By Ed DeRosa
The Sequel
With the buzz around Hit Show (2-1) at an all-time high heading into Saturday’s $350,000 Fayette (G2), nine challengers, including Rattle N Roll (4-1), have their sights set on shaking things up.
It’s been a banner past few months for Hit Show, who rides into the 1 1/8-mile dirt affair at Keeneland off a pair of hard-fought victories in the Lukas Classic (G2) and West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3).
The Brad Cox charge is set to meet Rattle N Roll for the second time in many starts after besting him in the Lukas on Sept. 28.
Trained by Kenneth McPeek, Rattle N Roll finished third, 3 ½-lengths behind Hit Show last time out, and seeks his first score since last June’s Blame (G3) (0-1-1 in four subsequent contests).
All Tuned Up
Despite falling painfully short last time out in the Cotillion (G1), Gun Song enters the $250,000 Mother Goose (G2) on a high note.
Not often does finishing second feel like a win, but the 3-year-old filly, at 44-1, came within a neck of taking down one of the nation’s top competitors in Thorpedo Anna (9: 7-0-2 with five graded stakes tallies) last time out.
The encouraging effort has Gun Song well-positioned leading into the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose, opening as the 8-5 choice.
Saturday’s start will also be the Mark Hennig trainee’s first at Belmont since her triumphant professional debut on Oct. 21, 2023.
Feeling Like a Million Bucks (x2)
Saturday afternoon’s $650,000 Bryan Station (G3T) is lined up to be a meeting of the millionaires.
Seven-figure stars Trikari ($1.3 million banked) and Brilliant Berti ($1.25 million) will go head-to-head at Keeneland following a 1-2 finish in favour of the former in August’s Secretariat (G2T).
While their previous matchup wasn’t particularly close – Trikari was victorious by 2 ¼-lengths – the million-dollar marvels appear primed for another strong day at the office.
Oddsmakers have Trikari pegged as the 2-1 opening line choice, with Brilliant Berti following at 7-2.
The next closest challenger is Evade (FR) at 6-1.
Go for Goal
Coming off an impressive three-quarter length clearance in the $175,000 Westchester (G3), Messier is ready to make his mark in Saturday’s $250,000 Forty Niner (G3).
Returning to the friendly confines of Belmont’s dirt course for the first time since May’s Winchester, Messier is back in form following a knee procedure that had him sidelined for five months.
The three-time graded stakes winner (Grade 3 Bob Hope and Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis) will face off with recent 1-2 finishers in the Parx Dirt Mile Stakes, Coastal Mission and Repo Rocks, as well as stakes winners Stage Raider and Film Star.
The resilient Messier enters at 7-2.
Keep on Truckin’
Tracking down that true breakthrough moment has been elusive for Rothschild through seven starts (1-1-2), but the 3-year-old colt is trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday’s $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita.
After a difficult beginning to his rookie campaign (one win in five attempts), something started to click for Rothschild over his past three efforts.
The Tim Yakteen trainee delivered a career-best performance in his final rookie romp – second in last December’s Cecil B. DeMille (G3T)– and carried that momentum into two thirds (Oceanside Stakes and Grade 3 Nashville Derby Invitational) to kick off his 2024 campaign.
It won’t be easy against DeMille champion Stay Hot, but the John Velazquez mount is giving his connections something to be excited about.