Imagining Heads Tough Bowling Green at Spa

Four of the nine entrants share the highweight of 121 pounds, led by Imagining, winner of the Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) in March. Since then, Imagining has rolled a pair of fifths in grade I company, first in the Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park, then in the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. He won last year's Man o'War on the front end and is equally adept at setting the pace or stalking it.

 

Innovation Economy comes in with an off-the-pace victory in the Belmont Gold Cup Stakes in his pocket. That was the first stakes action for the lightly-raced 4-year-old, who would enjoy a quick tempo up front.

 

Dramedy scored two back in the Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland wire-to-wire, then relinquished the lead late in the Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) last time out. An off-the-pace runner most of his career, he has turned into a speedy type.

 

Red Rifle is the fourth entrant weighted at 121. He got home first in the Dominion Day Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 1 and has been competitive in stakes company for the past year, though he finished far back of Innovation Economy in the Belmont Gold Cup. War Dancer hasn't visited the winner's circle in more than a year, but just missed by a neck in the Man o'War. The stalker could prove to be a dangerous runner at generous odds here.

 

Golden Soul, second to Orb   in the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), looks to recapture some of that old form. He won a pair of allowance heats late last year, but has failed to break through in his last five efforts, the past four in grade III company. Millionaire Al Khali has plenty of back class, but he is 9 now and his recent two races off a nearly two-year layoff have yielded fifths. 

 

Speedy Iron Power steps up from allowance races and will be part of the pace scenario, but really needs to pick it up from a class standpoint. Morning Calm, who does his racing from well back, also needs to prove he belongs with this bunch. He finished fifth in the Belmont Gold Cup.