Laban should be best stalker in Gerry Skelton field

LABAN, WHO actually chased MADELYN’S SUNSHINE into the lane on November 4, allowing the out-of-class foreigner five pounds, should again prove better than KP CHOICE and RACE CAR in the stretch run of Saturday’s Gerry Skelton Memorial at five and a half furlongs.

ULTIMATE MACHINE and LUKSOL should be the pacesetters but neither will last, considering KP CHOICE, LABAN and RACE CAR are stalking sprinters who will be on to them before the home turn.

Emerging from the woodwork at six furlongs on last, LABAN ran smack into MADELYN’S SUNSHINE - another get-out-of-jail horse - who stamped her class on overnight-allowance company for the second time in seven months, clocking an impressive 1:13.0 in a five-length victory.

Proving she belonged nowhere near overnight-allowance runners, MADELYN’S SUNSHINE returned a week later to duel MAHOGANY in the graded stakes/open allowance Port Royal Sprint, surrendering to the Gold Cup runner-up a half furlong out.

Back among overnight rivals, six-year-old LABAN should easily frank MADELYN’S SUNSHINE’s form two levels lower, considering his last victory was actually an upset win in open allowance, outfinishing LURE OF LUCY and DUKE at five furlongs straight in February.

Returning off a three-month break, LABAN was underestimated at the trip after beating BIG BIG DADDY and POSITIVE ID at seven furlongs in November. However, the versatile six-year-old not only reported sharp off the lay-up, but also overcame the track bias from post-position one to collar rivals early inside the final furlong.

Since completing back-to-back victories, LABAN has faced rivals against whom he had no chance, tackling seasoned graded stakes and open-allowance runners in seven races until given his get-out-of-jail card by the conditions book.