Saturday March 25, 2000

The 29th Spiral Stakes
9th @ Turfway
All carry 121

2. Nature...Thompson...3 for 3 over this strip so he must be considered. Won in spite of being wide a good part of the way in the Battaglia. Didn't really care for Florida, or the other Kentucky tracks for that matter. He sure does like it here though. Will have to step up his game quite a bit though I would imagine. Welcome to the Derby chase, Nature.

3. Runpastum...Davis...Very intriguing. The breeding is impeccable and he runs for the Devil's Red of Calumet. Ran off and hid from 2 fields at Gulfstream, at two different distances as well. Nice works at Hialeah since and he ships in tight. Might be a bit much to ask but the promise is there. The future looks bright for this one.

4. Rollin With Nolan...Albarado...Three impressive efforts at Gulfstream and if not for a rough trip with Polish Miner and Wayward Ways, would be rolling in here 3 for 3. Zito kept him on an even keel at Hialeah. Nice breeding here too. Albarado 0 for 10 with Zito. Still, he should be right there at the end.

5. Deputy Warlock...Guidry...Another who didn't care for Florida at all. Two dismal efforts in The Fountain and Florida Derby. Back home and blinkers off. I really just don't think he is fast enough for this field. McPeek has been making excuses for the Florida efforts. No excuses now. McPeek 14% with blinkers off.

6. Country Signature...Martinez...That he's won at 1 1/8 is about the best you can say about his chances here. Doesn't appear fast enough.

7. Miami Blase...D'Amico...Another local shooter with six starts over the track. Might be good enough to catch 4th, but I doubt it. Not against these.

8. Gateman...Smith...Interesting entry from Elliot. Only his 2nd start of the year and coming off of a nice effort on the grass in the Palm Beach at Gulfstream. That, his 2nd start here as he was knocking heads in Great Britain's listed wars last year, with some success I might add. Ships up from Payson where he put in a fabulous work on the 7th. This race will tell us a lot about him.

9. Archer City Slew...Gomez...Really came to life in his last 2 at Santa Anita which leads me to believe he might back off a bit here. Still should be good enough to win, or at least, score in the exotics. Losing Antley is a question and Gomez has never ridden. Solid work here on Tuesday even if it was in the slop. A deserving favorite, though it'll probably only be lukewarm.

10. Silver Tycoon...Martinez...Is there one corner of the Triple Crown world that Wayne doesn't have covered? It's beginning to look like he's gonna run one in every prep! This one appears overmatched here though. Ugly fall two back and I always wonder what that does to a horses' psyche. Especially if involved in a tough battle with a full field the next few times out.

11. Elite Mercedes...Day...Tough draw for Elliot here. He really never fulfilled the promise this spring that he hinted at last fall during the BC meet. I would guess an off performance here would have everyone thinking lesser events from here on out. Maybe the terrible post will be his ticket to ride, just one more time. I expect he'll show more here than he did in the Florida Derby after being steadied, and allegedly flipping his palate. One thing he does have--incredible looks. He is one sharp looking colt.  

      I expect Rollin With Nolan and Archer City Slew will be on the lead together. Will it be sensible? If it is, it could be those two all the way around. If it's wacky, then expect a closer to get up for a piece.

     I'll use Globalize too just in case. He ran with ACS early in his career and has been hampered by off tracks in his last 3.

     I expect Elite Mercedes to bounce back from his last and keep the rest honest.

1. Rollin With Nolan

1. Archer City Slew

3. Globalize