The $400,000 GII Alysheba S. marks the return of GIII Iowa Derby hero American Freedom (Pulpit) following a lengthy layoff. The Bob Baffert trainee finished runner-up to GI Preakness S. hero Exaggerator (Curlin) in the GI Haskell Invitational S. over a sloppy Monmouth Park main July 31 and filled that spot again behind stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the latter's tour-de-force coming out party the GI Travers S. going 1 1/4 miles Aug. 27. Shelved since, the Gary and Mary West colorbearer has been working forwardly since the end of March at Santa Anita, among them three bullets. He most recently covered seven furlongs there in 1:24 (1/3) Apr. 28. The $500,000 KEESEP yearling faces 10 rivals and leaves from stall nine.
DARRS Inc.'s Honorable Duty (Distorted Humor) is eyeing his fourth victory in a row, after landing three Fair Grounds features. The Tenacious S. went his way Dec. 17 and he defeated the MGSW International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus) going 1 1/16 miles in the GIII Mineshaft H. Feb. 25. Extended to nine furlongs, Honorable Duty bested GSW and 2016 GI Clark H. runner-up Breaking Lucky (Lookin At Lucky) in the GII New Orleans H. by a neck last time Apr. 1.
Aussie Ian Wilkes sends out McCraken (Ghostzapper) in the GI Kentucky Derby Saturday, but he also has recent GIII Fred Hooper S. hero Bird Song (Unbridled's Song) in this spot. The grey ran third in the GIII Ben Ali S. transferred to Keeneland Apr. 15.
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