While Churchill's GII Alysheba S. drew 10 older horses, two runners look particularly tough to get past on paper. Sumaya U S Stables's Protonico (Giant's Causeway) was a solid late-season 3-year-old last season, annexing the GIII Smarty Jones S. at Parx in September and GIII Discovery H. two starts later at Aqueduct Nov. 1. The Todd Pletcher trainee finished a close second to Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) in the GI Clark H. here Nov. 28, and was flattered when that runner returned to annex the GII San Pasqual S. and the third finisher and stablemate Constitution (Tapit) went on to grab the GI Donn H. Protonico was eased in the Feb. 7 Donn, but came right back to turn in his best effort to date–a smashing five length romp over Neck 'n Neck (Flower Alley) in Keeneland's GIII Ben Ali S. Apr. 11 that earned him a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.
Lane's End Racing's lightly raced Honor Code (A.P. Indy) seeks to continue adding to his already solid resume. Second in the GI Champagne S. and winner of the GII Remsen S. as a juvenile in 2013, the Shug McGaughey-trained 'TDN Rising Star' was second to Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile) in a Gulfstream allowance last March before being forced off the Triple Crown trail with a suspensory injury. He flew home to take a 6 1/2-furlong Aqueduct optional claimer going 6 1/2 panels Nov. 22, and rallied from out of the clouds to get up in the one-mile GII Gulfstream Park H. last time Mar. 7 over MGISW Private Zone (Macho Uno).
Daniel Dougherty's Ride On Curlin (Curlin) was seventh in last year's GI Kentucky Derby S. with a tough trip, and improved to second in the GI Preakness S. Eased in the GI Belmont S. in June, he returned to take an Oaklawn sprint optional claimer Jan. 15 before a second in the Essex H. at this distance Feb. 14. The Billy Gowan pupil was a disappointing last of six last time over good ground in the GIII Razorback H. back in Hot Springs Mar. 14.
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