A state-bred "non-winners of 1other/than" going a flat mile out of the Aqueduct chute is interesting in that it features juveniles in various stages of development against one another.

Not suprisingly, we'll consider those that have made the most of their limited opportunities, stressing contenders with experience.

Trading Pro (5-2) is a worthy morning line favorite. He distinguished himself by running fast in a 7-furlong sprint before catching a sloppy track vs. stakes competititon last out. He returns with limited winners here, is predicted to get fast footing, and has excellent early speed. That style fits the profile for success in this class at the distance. Joe Bravo rides for Rick Violette.

Tiger Heart , runner-up in the Grade I Vosburgh on Oct. 1 at Belmont Park, was installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite by track handicapper Frank Carulli . The 4-year-old New York-based colt is trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. , who won the Breeders' Cup Sprint this year with Silver Train . Edgar Prado will ride Tiger Heart.

"I'm really looking forward to a good year. The early approval allows us to get the stakes races published on the racing calendars early and allows the horsemen to begin thinking about coming to Colonial," said Colonial's vice president and general manager, Ian Woolnaugh.

16-year-old Josh Radosevich, a third-generation horsemen, was killed doing what he was born to do. When his mount Nyoka broke down in upper stretch at Beulah Park Wednesday afternoon, Radosevich was thrown to the ground, trampled by other horses and killed.

I suppose Dickens’ line could apply to any tragic event throughout the history of the world, but to this horse racing fan, this incident hits home.

Radosevich piloted his first mount on October 6 and rode his first winner on October 14, his first of 19. It is the early resume of a budding star. Our sport is one which welcomes young individuals motivated to succeed in a very difficult game and clearly Radosevich was one of them.

Rock Hard '06 -- Saint Liam missed last year's Breeders' Cup due to a setback but returned at five to win four Grade 1 events this season, capping a likely Horse of the Year campaign with one-length score in the Classic (G1) at Belmont Park. Here's hoping that ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) has the opportunity to repeat history in 2006. His status is still up in the air pending further evaluation, but the sky's the limit if the massive dark bay is sound enough to make it back to the races. Unbeaten in 2005, the Richard Mandella-trained colt reeled off victories in the Malibu S. (G1) (late December), Strub S. (G2) and Santa Anita H. (G1) prior to winning the Goodwood Breeders' Cup S. (G2) off a near seven-month layoff. A foot problem knocked him out of the Breeders' Cup, so Rock Hard Ten will have to shoot for North America's richest prize at age five, like Saint Liam, if he returns to the races.

Even if today's racetrack at Aqueduct were fast, this would be a very difficult puzzle. No kidding, this "non-winners of 2 other/than for 3&up" at one mile might be the hardest of this classification we've ever seen. Stakes experienced 3-year-olds vs. late developing 4-year-olds is always challenging, especially with so much talent on hand.

Add the fact that Tuesday showers with a call for more of the same on race day will render the track wet. How wet, at this writing, is anyone's guess. For sure, it's is a great betting race and, also for sure, you don't want to accept a short price on any of today's entrants. I'm not sure who the favorite should or will be.