Allegiance finally gets chance against peers

Beset by out-of-class foreigners for much of his last eight runs, ALLEGIANCE showed enough last time out behind BOSS MAN that, despite breaking from a deep post at five furlongs straight in Saturday’s Don Wehby Memorial, he should have as good a chance as any inside the last furlong.
Stalking BOSS MAN and I DREAM AGAIN from third down the backstretch at seven furlongs, ALLEGIANCE glided into second coming off the home turn, but BOSS MAN kicked away to win in 1:23.4 on a fast track in the June 28 Hubert Bartley Memorial.
Running a grade above three weeks earlier, ALLEGIANCE was never a factor behind RAINSVILLE, ZULU WARRIOR and five-straight specialist RICORICORICO. However, on May 16, ALLEGIANCE made late headway for third at five furlongs straight, finishing three and a quarter lengths behind RICORICORICO among non-winners-of-an-overnight-allowance.
ALLEGIANCE’s previous races were won by horses now competing in open-allowance, and higher, the likes of stablemate SIR DON, DON KWESI, OF A REVOLUTION, SHE’S THAT GIRL, and WALL STREET TRADER.
Anthony Nunes has retained Eric Haughton to slip five pounds, taking ALLEGIANCE down to 118, hoping the claiming rider can angle the five-year-old to midtrack for a late charge at the leaders.
I DREAM AGAIN is drawn at post-position nine, having the track bias to his advantage. However, ALLEGIANCE appeared comfortable stalking the 2025 Derby winner in the Hubert Bartley before making his move.
AWESOME ANTHONY has a plumb draw, widest, at pole 13 but could come under pressure early from I DREAM AGAIN in what could be a collapsing pace, which could also be to the benefit of BOB THE BUILDER should ALLEGIANCE fail to overcome his inside draw.