11 frisky colts will meet out at the spa tomorrow afternoon in the 13^th in the $500,000 Grade 2 Shiny Gem at 9 furlongs on what is supposed to be a fast track. There are loads of possibilities at the Graveyard of Favorites with 7 of the colts running at between 5/1 and 8/1 on the morning line. A number of colts here made appearances in the Triple Crown series, and those who seem able to handle the distance and like the track may be seen late next month at the Travelers. My projected speeds show the entire field within 7 points of one another, and with the possibility of summer 3-year-old ability bumps in mind, anybody here could prevail.

Hotaw Taw, the 9-1 shot running from the inside, has a turfy looking pedigree, but the son of Tawquet in the Kingmambo line likes the dirt better. He has earnings of $182 K, more than twice as much as any other Tawquet progeny. Sent by rlogs, part of the large OneWorld operation, this one put up a 100 speed for the first time twice back in his first attempt in Minnesota, winning an allowance with a 103. He entered stakes company a month ago in New Jersey, repeating the 103 in placing in the Release the Kraken. He has shown good persistence in the stretch in 5 straight 9 furlong allowances before that, and with the liking of the distance, deserves to be rated better than 6^th choice here at 8-1. Jockey Nation has a good 15% winning percentage.

Dancer’s Secret is sent out by blankpoin2 from the pointblank organization as the 18/1 underdog in the field.  After winning the G3 Silver Fence and G2 Felipe Alou last winter, the son of Rahy (x Secretariat x Northern Dancer) was a short-odds putative contender in the California Derby but disappointed in the Middle Jewel before pulling up in the New Yorker. The 103 rendered in the Felipe Alou was his fastest performance and he looks to start putting his career together among elevated company. His best performances have come while closing and there is only one closer in the field who is clearly faster; if Curly Q has a bad trip or off day, Dancer’s Secret could surprise.

Ioskeha tries to avoid interment in the Graveyard of Favorites here, going off at 5/1 along with two other co-favorites. The star progeny of bargain-type St Averil, in the Saint Ballado Line, with Touch Gold and Conquistador Cielo filling out the top line of the pedigree is sent by the nureyev barn from the massive cvbear conglomerate. Ioskeha comes off a large 106 in the G2 Vinny Barbarino, good only for a show finish, at 8 ½ furlongs just three weeks ago.  The last 2 fast track performances before that were both 101s, in an allowance and then the G3 Dancing North, both at this distance.  Iosheka runs with a stalk or deep stalk style, seeming to do better when he doesn’t fall too far behind the leaders. He can expect to be amidst 5 or 6 fast ones attempting the same approach.

Citizen Cat (8/1) comes off three straight 100+ speeds for in-the-money finishes in graded stakes.  The son of Surf Cat (x Proud Citizen) put up his best performance in May in the Bluegrass Derby Trial at a mile still coming on late for a place finish. The Cat’s ability to get the distance has to be in doubt as he has often been passed in the lane and his 9-furlong performances have not been his best. While the Cat brings in paychecks steadily he has not won since an Iowa allowance last November. Trainer salurnivek of the Worldwide group will have rider Solomon (12%) ready to duel with Bushwhacked Ted for the lead and separation from him will be a challenge.

The aptly named SummerinSaratoga (11/1) goes from the 5-slot and might well contend with Citizen Cat to his inside early; although he only goes for the front intermittently, these occasions have led to his 2 best performances, 100+ speed place finishes in the G3 Buccaneer in March and the Metro Ack in May. His two most recent forays in New York, in the New Yorker and the Liar, have been unsuccessful but perhaps trainer chloedawg from the pointblank group knew something the morning line maker didn’t when naming this son of Arch. Conquistador Cielo adds a dirt route influence. Jockey Nog has been winning at a 12% pace, well above his career average and will hope that his steed is ready for a 3-year-old SummerSpurt in ability.

Cyber Chase (10/1) in the 6-slot is the distance specialist in the field.  The Street Sense x Awesome Again colt has run 7 straight at 9 furlongs or more since March, all in-the-money finishes, the only win being his best speed, a 102 in a 10-furlong allowance last month out west. Before that Cyber Chase had a place and two shows in the NWRC Triple Crown. There are those who have faster resumes if you just look at the speed column but allowances should be made for the bias that makes slightly lower figures competitive at the classic distances. The cqj barn from Kobras Stables has enlisted rider Brennan (12%) who will take s deep stalk style.

Curly Q (6/1) had an impressive stretch beginning last December when he won 4 stakes in 5 tries, including the G1 California Derby, running second in the other performance. The Lbost Stables homebred did not excel in his the triple crown efforts, but with $833K in earnings is the second biggest earner among Curlin’s first crop; Mr. Greeley and Storm Cat fill out the top line. The 103s run in the California Derby and El Camino are his fastest performances and Ayva, the circuit’s top rider, will try to bring Curly Q back to that level. This one is a pure closer, and is more skilled than the 2 other closers in the field, making it highly likely that Curly Q will be coming hard in the lane. Definitely can do.

Boardwalk Access in the 8 slot is another closing threat and has his main threat upon that group right to his inside if rider Hommell wants to mark him. The homebred son of Red Bullet (x Fairy King x Alleged) goes for the yours2view branch of Murray Stables. Boardwalk Access hasn’t yet hit the 100 speed mark; his best performance was a win back in March in the Black Tie. 10 furlongs last out looked too long for him but he has always been coming in the lane at 8 ½ furlongs and so might find this to be his distance.  At 16/1, this one and fellow longshot Dancer’s Secret may have an opportunity if the other closer, Curly Q, fails to fire.

Bushwhacked Ted, one of the 5/1 cofavorites, is one of 2 to share the top speed of 106 in the field, his earned last out while finishing 3^rd in the Liar. This one is the pride and joy of the pup stable, which will try to best some of the big operations here. It’s an understatement to say that this one is the star progeny of bargain-type Korean sire Official Flame in the Deputy Minister line; he has earned $584 K, while the sire’s #2 earner has brought home $7 K. Bushwhacked Ted can be expected to try for the lead here under unheralded rider Shelly although his best efforts have actually come running right behind the leader. He has had the lead at 3^rd call in his last two at 8.5 furlongs before fading and has a tough group to fend off here; this may not be this people’s horse’s day.

Pronounce This is the top earner in the field with $883 K, earned by sticking to graded events only since last September for trainer juey72 of Glenrohan Stables. This one is the leading earner of Dylan Thomas’s second crop; unlike most of his progeny, this one has shown a preference for the dirt, taking after game dam Pronunciation. Rider Orza is one of the better ones and will try to keep this one close to the leaders, making his move before 3^rd call. A likely pacesetter is right to the inside where an eye can be kept on him. Last out was a sharp 105 win in the Trial by Night in Norway; that was a big jump over his previous 3 performances and a bounce must be feared.

Mark of Destiny has the outside post for conditioner theleague of the hornedfrog aggregation. This one has put up 3 100+ performances but has never matched his best of 105 winning the All Saints derby lock prep in Louisiana. Since then his best showing has been a 3^rd place finish in the Affirmative out west twice back. This one was brought home $689 K making him the top earner among Benchmark’s crop that year. This one was lost ground late in his last 3 and that has to be a concern; skilled jockey Radzinski will note that this one’s best performance came while running from 6+ lengths back, while attempts to stay close early have not resulted in wins.

Toral picks from his fedora:

Curly Q

Hotaw Taw

Iosheka