Penn Mile contender profiles

BRONSON (Post Position #1, Program #2)

• Last Out, in the $75,000 English Channel Stakes at GP: Tracked solid pace from fourth while along the inside, moved up on the turn, tipped out, prevailed while drifting out
• Profile: Pricey Pletcher trainee couldn’t have asked for a much better trip last out in taking the English Channel, when perched a few lengths behind a solid pace. Same trip not out of the question here today. Pletcher’s 11-for-30 at the track, with 80 percent of runners in the money, in the last five years. Finished fifth, beaten two lengths, by subsequent Kentucky Derby starter Fast and Accurate in the G3 Spiral on the synthetic at Turfway.

SHIRAZ (Post Position #2, Program #1)

• Last Out, in NY-bred N1X allowance: Broke a bit tardily, seventh while two wide on the turn, came four wide in the lane, then came back towards the inside to finish fifth by 3 1/2 lengths.
• Profile: One of a trio of runners owned by Three Diamonds Farm in this race and one of two trained by Mike Maker, the other being in the Pletcher barn. The most experienced runner here, with 10 starts, this New York-bred son of Tale of the Cat enjoyed best result when third in G3 Dania Beach at 7 ½ furlongs. Also third three back in $100k stake at GP, but that was a questionable race. Enters off back-to-back defeats as the favorite in NY-bred allowance company while sprinting. Should be more forwardly placed today, but why here with just a week away?

TIME TO TRAVEL (Post Position #3, Program #3)

• Last Out, in $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes at PIM: Pressed the pace while two wide, bid for the lead entering the lane, could not contain winner No Mo Dough while narrowly holding second.
• Profile: Solid effort last out in a good edition of the restricted Sir Barton in first try with Lasix. Matz trainee makes first try on the green stuff but is a full to multiple Grade 1-winning turf millionaire Hard Not to Like. Prado gets back aboard, and he’s got this one’s only win. With just four starts, this son of Hard Spun has plenty of upside, competitive speed figs – and a genuine chance to like the lawn.

CISTRON (Post Position #4, Program #4)

• Last Out, in the $79,000 Desert Code Stakes at SA: Broke sharply but dropped back towards the rear of the field while never far back, moved to closer order nearing the lane while between horses, went through an inviting seam to go clear but could not hold off the winner while finishing second in the 6 1/2-furlong test.
• Profile: Versatile son of The Factor has a stakes win on the dirt and three stakes placings on the lawn, including last out when second as the favorite in the Desert Code at Santa Anita. Love the confidence trainer John Sadler shows by shipping here from his Santa Anita base, and Paco Lopez in the irons could be a good fit. Speedy sort could grab the lead if that’s how it shakes out but doesn’t need the front.

MO MAVERICK (Post Position #5, Program #5)

• Last Out, in the Jimmy Murphy Stakes at PIM: Broke alertly to set a solid, pressured pace along the inside on good going, tired in the lane and was beaten four lengths by rallying winner Yoshida, while finishing third in a blanket finish for the minor awards in this one-mile turf test.
• Profile: George Weaver trainee is another runner who figures to be part of the early pace, based on recent tries, including tiring third last out in the Murphy. Feargal Lynch takes the mount for the first time on a runner who’ll need his very best in this spot. This son of Uncle Mo, out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare, fetched $200,000 at auction.

HOLIDAY STONE (Post Position #6, Program #6)

• Last Out, in the G2 American Turf at CD: Tracked the pace from third and fourth while close up along the inside, could not go on in the lane, finished eighth by 11 lengths.
• Profile: What to do with this second Weaver trainee? The Harlan’s Holiday colt’s best efforts – including second to tonight’s favorite Big Score in the G3 Transylvania – puts him in the mix. Last out was a mess, but he may not have liked slick going or buried-down-inside trip. Drawn more favorably in mid-pack here, with Luis Saez back in the irons, this is a runner who, if the trip works out, can outrun these odds and may appreciate slightly shorter distance.

BONUS POINTS (Post Position #7, Program #1A)

• Last Out, in the $100,000 Parx Derby: Bumped and pushed wide while last entering the first turn, remained in last up the backstretch, commenced a rally while remaining on the outside into the far turn, took command leaving the furlong grounds and went on to win by almost two lengths in the 1 mile 70 yard test.
• Profile: The second Pletcher runner in here, this guy was on the periphery of the Triple Crown trail, trying the New York route, including a fifth-place finish in the G2 Wood Memorial before finding the drop to ungraded company more to his liking last out. His two turf tries aren’t overly promising, though, and he and his sibs are 0-for-24 going a route of ground on the lawn.

BIG SCORE (Post Position #8, Program #7)

• Last Out, in the G2 American Turf: Navigated the first turn along the inside and mid-pack, inched towards the middle of the course while moving along the backstretch, commenced a run while five wide midway on the far turn, came wider in the lane, flattened out late while remaining engaged to the end to finish third by a length, just missing second in the 1 1/16 mile test.
• Profile: This Tim Yakteen trainee is another West Coast shipper here, and there’s nothing wrong with his career efforts to date, including a win in the G3 Transylvania – in which he was much the best after a complicated trip in a race that produced three next-out winners –and a good third in the G2 American Turf. Has kept good company throughout his career, including a fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, figures to get a pace to run at, and is reunited with recent regular pilot Javier Castellano.

PRIZE FIGHT (Post Position #9, Program #1X)

• Last Out, in the Sophomore Turf Stakes at TAM: Tracked the pace along the inside for three quarters, came to the lead in upper stretch while shifting to the outside for running room, no answers late, held third, beaten by 2 1/2 lengths.
• Profile: This feels like an awfully heavy lift for a runner three starts removed from beating maiden claimers. Blinkers go on for this Maker trainee, the third in the Three Diamonds contingent. That was a decent effort in the Sophomore last out; runner-up General McGooby returned to be second to #2 Bronson in GP stake next out. Tiznow colt is cross-entered in stake at BEL.

FROSTMOURNE (Post Position #10, Program #8)

• Last Out, in the $98,000 Woodhaven Stakes at BEL: Quickly into second while perched outside the leader, bid to near-even terms in mid-stretch but could not get by, well clear of show horse in this 1 1/16 mile test.
• Profile: Christophe Clement trainee had a useful season debut when runner-up in the Woodhaven in first try in six months while getting Lasix for the first time; owns right to move forward off that one. Stakes winner projects a mid-pack trip here with Irad Ortiz up and could be a handful late.