The promising Kentuckian (Tiznow), a runaway winner of the seven-furlong GIII Lazaro Barrera S. at Santa Anita last time May 10, makes his route debut against four rivals in Saturday's GII Los Alamitos Derby. Tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star' off a double-digit debut win at Golden Gate Mar. 7, the Fox Hill Farms colorbearer finished a troubled third in the San Pedro S. Apr. 12. The gray, a $610,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, has been working bullets for this, including a six-furlong move in 1:11 in Arcadia June 25. “He was very impressive last time and it was as easy as it looked,” jockey Mike Smith said. “He's also been training extremely well since that race.” Hall of Famers Smith and Jerry Hollendorfer, of course, teamed up to win this with Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) last year.
Gimme Da Lute (Midnight Lute) and Prospect Park (Tapit), one-two in the GIII Affirmed S. June 7, loom the main danger. The former followed a pair of third-place finishes in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill May 2 and Chick Lang S. at Pimlico 14 days later with a half-length tally while making his two-turn debut in the Affirmed last time. Prospect Park, meanwhile, gave 'TDN Rising Star' Dortmund (Big Brown) a good run for his money when second in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 7, but failed to build on that effort when fourth in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 4. He has fired two bullet workouts since his runner-up effort as the 3-5 chalk last time.
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