Jimmie, Star Writer

ANTHONY NUNES' FRAN-KENSTORM flew at exercise last Wednesday morning, clocking an incredible 58.4 for 1000 metres straight, making him the ante-post favourite for tomorrow's fifth race out of the chute.

FRANKENSTORM has hit the board in his four starts, beaten by CRUCIAL APPEAL and DOC HOLIDAY in two outings as a three-year-old this year.

Though FRANKENSTORM looks home and dry on paper, Gary Subratie's WHERE DEM BOYS, a United States-bred debutant, looks talented enough to crash the locally bred's party.

Purchased as a two-year-old for US$22,000 by owner Michael Bernard, WHERE DEM BOYS' name, breeding, and lone speed gallop suggest the filly could be an above-average first-timer.

After posting 25.3 and 38.3 for two and three furlongs late April, WHERE DEM BOYS breezed five furlongs straight in 1:00.4 last Wednesday, the same morning FRANKENSTORM blazed 58.4 for the distance.

WHERE DEM BOYS' sire is Pomeroy, a Kentucky-bred, by Boundary out of Questress. As a two-year-old, Pomeroy won the Saratoga Special, a grade two race, at six and a half furlongs.

At three, Pomeroy landed the grade-one King's Bishop Stakes at seven furlongs and the grade-three Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes, in addition to finishing second in the grade-three Gotham Stakes.

He continued winning graded races up to his retirement, at five years old, in 2006 and entered stud in Florida that year.

If blessed with the speed of her sire, WHERE DEM BOYS could easily put it across FRANKENSTORM tomorrow.

top trainers

It should be noted that, unlike other top trainers at Caymanas Park, Subratie does not gun his horses at exercise, more so first-timers. Hence, WHERE DEM BOYS, clocking a seemingly pedestrian 1:00.4, compared with FRANKENSTORM's 58.4, should not be taken on face value.

Omar Walker is aboard the United States-bred filly for Subratie whereas Cardenas will be doing duties astride Nunes' FRANKENSTORM.

Walker is set to have a good day in the saddle as he looks to add to his lead in the jockeys' championship following Dane Nelson's three-timer last Saturday. Nelson, second in the standings, reduced Walker's lead to three at the weekend.

In addition to WHERE DEM BOYS, Walker has a double lined up for trainer Gary Griffiths - SHINING GOLD in the 1300-metre Birnamwood Trophy, the eighth race, and ROSE GOLD in the ninth at 1000 metres straight.

Unlike Saturday's form-players' dream card, tomorrow's meet is far more challenging but still has a banker or two in waiting - ETHOS in the third at 1500 metres and HUMBLE LION in the fourth at 2000 metres.