Evening Attire Tops Campbell Field

Evening Attire rarely ventures away from New York, so when he does it's safe to say that he is ready to run, and is expected to be the overwhelming favorite in Saturday's $150,000 John B. Campbell Breeders' Cup Handicap at Laurel Park.

Evening Attire, with Shaun Bridgmohan as his rider, is listed as the 3-5 favorite and will carry top weight of 122 pounds. Trainer Patrick Kelly let the grey/roan horse roll out a bullet, five-furlong workout at Belmont Park on Monday.

"He's doing really well," said Kelly. "Actually he likes the cold weather that's why we decided to stay in this part of the country rather than wintering in Florida."

The 6-year-old will go over the $2 million mark in career earnings with a first or second place finish.

"We haven't won a stake in awhile and being in New York it is an easy trip for a nice purse," added Kelly. "It is a lot of weight to give away. He gave away eight to 10 pounds in his last race (a second place finish in the grade III Aqueduct last month) and got beat a nose."

A field of nine is shaping up for the nine furlong Campbell, the co-feature on the nine-race card with the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II).

Co-second choice on the morning line at 5-1 is the Elliott Walden-trained Ole Faunty. The Quiet American gelding shipped to Laurel from Churchill Downs in January and was an easy winner of an allowance test after the Native Dancer Stakes was cancelled with the Jan. 10 card. He returned to Kentucky, worked a bullet at Turfway Park on Feb. 4th and returns this time with jockey Mike Luzzi.

The field for the $150,000 John B. Campbell Handicap with jockey, weight and morning line odds, from the rail out:
1-----Basil's Rhythm, (Jose Caraballo, 113, 50-1)
2-----Evening Attire, (Shaun Bridgmohan, 122, 3-5)
3-----Ole Faunty, (Mike Luzzi, 114, 5-1)
4-----Quiet Mike, (Stewart Elliott, 114, 15-1)
5-----Rogue Agent, (Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 113, 5-1)
6-----Lyracist, (Nick Petro, 116, 12-1)
7-----Your Bluffing, (Ramon Dominguez, 116, 6-1)
8-----Last Intention, (Jeremy Rose, 116, 15-1)
9-----Chandler Cup, (Ryan Fogelsonger, 113, 30-1)