[Linny]

Albarado did a bit of race riding against Mambo in the Gold Cup. As Mambo's regular rider, I assume that he thought he was a legit rival when he rode Curlin such as to keep Mambo down inside that day. Mambo fell back but the inside was not really the place to be and Robby made him stay there.

Mambo was obviously not the same horse on the Poly at Keeneland. I think he might deserve a shot in the Clark but Howard generally uses the FG stakes program. Mineshaft and Student Council went this route as did Grasshopper last year (not that he proved to be that good....) Maybe he feels that a confidence booster is better for the horse right now than a potentially tough race.