Saturday's GI Man o' War S. offers a composite of familiar faces who wintered on the South Florida turf marathon circuit with one notable exception–John D. Murrell's Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Conditioned by Dermot Weld, the bay has won six of her nine starts in Europe, including a pair of Grade III successes in Ireland last year. Zhukova recently returned from a half-year layup to annex the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse S. traveling 1 1/2 miles at Cork Apr. 15 and adds Lasix for her Stateside debut. The 5-year-old has already answered a number of questions that may arise Saturday, having defeated males on two previous occasions while owning three wins over turf rated as yielding or soft.
Morning lined at 5-1, Zhukova will likely need her 'A' game with a number of progressive challengers signed on, including GII Pan American S. winner Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy). The chestnut has developed into a model of consistency, having won four of his last five races for trainer Tom Albertrani. His Pan American score came at the expense of third-finishing Patterson Cross (Arch)–the latest in a series of three consecutive defeats by less than a length. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Patterson Cross was also second, beaten a head, behind Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) in the Mar. 4 GII Mac Diramida S. at Gulfstream. Wake Forest, meanwhile, seeks a repeat in the Man o' War, having captured the race by a gritty 3/4 of a length last year. Highland Sky (Sky Mesa) is a neck away from being a Grade I winner in his own right, having rallied furiously from last to finish second, beaten a neck, in the GI Belmont Derby last July. Yet another horse who may be coming into his own in 2017, the colt was last seen closing strongly to win a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer in Hallandale Feb. 25 and recently scratched from last Saturday's GIII Fort Marcy S. due to soft turf.
Mike Maker saddles GIII William L. McKnight H. winner Taghleeb (Hard Spun), while old pros Twilight Eclipse (Purim) and Charming Kitten (Kitten's Joy) complete the field. The former makes his first start under the care of trainer Graham Motion.
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