A somewhat unusual full field of ten has come to EMD Sunday to contest the Longacres Mile, a GIII event for an attractive purse on the main track.

There are a few surprises here when looking at the field, but expect Team 7 Illusion's Mehsod to get solid backing, as well as Lord Fielding from local Barking Stables.

Lets take a look at the contestants:

#1        After backing up on the turf at this distance in last, this well bred colt is back on the main track Sunday.  He is not having a particularly good four year old season, and an off the board finish here may be his ticket to the breeding shed next year.  He is, however, the second highest earner in the field here.

#2        Tired badly in deep stretch in last after winning three in a row before that.  The ten furlong distance might have been too much to ask at HOL, and he should revert back to monster status here Sunday at the mile distance.  Must consider, despite inconsistent jockey R Migliore.

#3        Winner of three straight while improving dramatically this season.  Top jockey R Albarado gets the piloting job, and SRF LaRosa numbers indicate this one may be the best here come Sunday.  It should be interesting to see how he fares when pressed early by better horses, as this is surely his toughest asking to date.

#4        Has been faring well in allowance company, but his SRF LaRosa numbers indicate caution is needed here Sunday.  His speed may not be comparable to most his competitors here.  Perhaps an improvement may be seen though, as he is relatively inexperienced thus far in his limited career.  Jockey Dos Ramos can only help.

#5        Three for three lifetime, but two of them were at the free track??  I cannot in good conscience back this one, although credit needs be given to the willingness of connections to step up to the plate here Sunday.

#6        A perplexing entry for the well known sprinter here at the mile distance, especially in light of his apparent off form in his last few.  He does continue to pound out the bullet works in the AM however, and his earnings cannot be argued against.  Still, he has to be considered a question mark for this distance.

#7        Another peculiar entry, most of us are likely surprised by the TC contender coming to EMD for this one and taking on older horses.  Perhaps connections want to gauge his competitiveness for the BC Classic upcoming this fall.  His SRF LaRosas suggest he may not quite be ready for this type of contest, but he continues to train sharp and show willingness in the AM.

#8        A well prepared and sharp entry by the King, proving well worth his $90.000 price tag from a start of the year claim.  With two triple digit LaRosas in his last two contests, and sharp jockey M Berry in the saddle, discard at your own risk.

#9        One of my very favorite competitors here at HRP, Sunday's distance here appears to be about ideal for him.  He has a very fast mile time at GP back in March on his resume, along with another win on an off surface at CD in high end allowance company.  This field may be a stretch for him, but he looks fit and fast in the AM and may be worth a flyer.

#10      Winner of eight of sixteen lifetime, the post really hurts him here on Sunday.  That being said, he appears undaunted by anything this year, as he has never finished worse than second the entire season.  This one also may be a nice value play come post time.

Summary:

Underrated:                  Lord Fielding, Pavarotti

Overrated:                    Semi Pro, Scheme

Fan Favorite:                Mehsod

Question Mark:            Willie Wanta Another  

MD Bud Longshot:       Hidden Scriptures, Copius Notes