Constitution Looks Loose in Turf Debut

TDN Rising Star Constitution (Tapit) is the only Grade I winner signed on for Monday's GII Bernard Baruch H., and–if he takes to the grass, an obvious unknown–looks to be the chief speed in what looms a stepping-stone to bigger days back on the main track over the coming months.

Last year's GI Florida Derby hero, the 4-year-old completed a sophomore trifecta in the GI Clark H. to end 2014 and returned to his favorite track to annex the GI Donn H. in front-running fashion in his lone appearance this season in February. Though there is not a great deal of turf in his female family, the combination of class and what appears to be a significant tactical advantage could win the day.

“We initially planned to run in an allowance race that didn't fill, we're trying to look for a race to prepare him for the Jockey Club [Gold Cup] and we felt like this would be a little bit easier on him than the Woodward,” trainer Todd Pletcher explained.

Ironicus (Distorted Humor) can continue on a trajectory towards the GI Breeders' Cup Mile with a good performance here. After rolling to a 7-1 upset in the GII Dixie S. on Preakness Day May 16, it looked like the Janney homebred could go for spots like the GI Manhattan S. and GI Arlington Million, but has been kept at a mile since. A tidy allowance winner over the trip downstate July 8, he was fanned wide at the top of the stretch in the GII Fourstardave H. Aug. 15 and kept on well to drop a narrow decision to Grand Arch (Arch). Javier Castellano sticks with the proven turf commodity over Constitution.

“He's had a couple breezes since [the Fourstardave] and we're ready to go,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “Hopefully, we'll get more pace in the race that's going to help and another sixteenth of mile is going to help as well.”

Vyjack (Into Mischief), a half-brother to one of the meet's tough-luck horses in Tepin (Bernstein), has run well in his two turf tries while pace-compromised on both occasions. Runner-up to King Kreesa (King Cugat) when that one was gifted the lead in the GIII Poker S. June 13, he was forced to settle for third to that free-wheeling rival in the July 11 Forbidden Apple S. at Belmont. He may have his day on the grass at some point, but faces a similarly cloudy pace scenario here.