All right, I'll bite - moderately speed-biased Polytrack today. No, it was not Blue Knight leading through a snail's pace and drawing away under a gallop at 3-5 in race 7, but 9-2 Engine Room made it five out of seven early-speed winners on the main track today, and a sixth horse, 6-1 Angel Talk in race 4, led to the final couple jumps before succumbing to rail-drawn even-money Count on It.
Engine Room was a second-time starter for leading trainer Wayne Catalano who had showed early speed after a slow break in his career debut, fading to a troubled sixth of 10. Blinkers on, stretch to one mile, two interim works -- clear winner at $11.60. Inside-pace horse Marvan held second, while rail-rallying Pleasantlysurprise was third. All in all, I will be upgrading the Polytrack performance of anything that ran fairly well while closing on the outside today.
As for featured race 8, longshot Bullet From Abroad was a revelation. 5yo gelding only recently came to Chicago, and now is 2-2 on the AP lawn after a clear victory over another long price, Catalano-trained Prestidigitation. Bullet From Abroad tracked the pace on soft turf on the way to N1X turf-sprint alw. win last out, but here he outran a very fast horse, Shrewd Operator, and stayed on nicel. Shrewd Operator faded badly, and the other short price, Greeley's Angel, was little better.
