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FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY MAY 20, 2008 by Kellie Reilly The filly and mare turf division has lost its upstart Eclipse Award winner Lahudood (GB) to the broodmare band, along with one of its true warhorses, the ever-tough Honey Ryder. Several of our stalwarts, however, have to returned to action, and we've also seen a few intriguing newcomers muscle their way into view. Star performer: The win machine known as RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) improved her record to a sparkling nine-for-11 when prevailing in an exceptionally deep renewal of the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland on April 12. The Christophe Clement filly lagged far off a dawdling early pace, rating in ninth in a 10-horse field, yet as she proved last season, she is no hostage to the tempo. Slicing through along the inside on the turn, Rutherienne darted between rivals in the stretch, while fellow closer LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) was disadvantaged by taking the overland route. Rutherienne proceeded to blitz her final sixteenth in :5.85 to get up by a neck over a staying-on STORMY WEST (Gone West), with Lady of Venice another head back in an excellent third. The close fourth-place finisher, ROSHANI (Fantastic Light), came right back to take Saturday's Gallorette H. (G3) at Pimlico. Rutherienne's terrific turn of foot, and her adroit maneuverability, earned her six stakes victories during her sophomore campaign in 2007, including a visually impressive score in the Del Mar Oaks (G1). The dark bay promises to add to that Grade 1 tally this season, with her next objective being the Gamely S. (G1) on Memorial Day at Hollywood Park. Likewise taking the Jenny Wiley-to-Gamely path is multiple Grade 1 star PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus), who was a better-than-appears fifth to Rutherienne at Keeneland. The Bobby Frankel trainee endured a wide trip throughout the 1 1/16-mile affair, traveling 64 feet farther than Rutherienne, according to the Trakus data, and she was spotting the winner four pounds to boot (123 versus 119). Despite all of that, Precious Kitten was beaten a total of 1 3/4 lengths. She will get the opportunity to turn the tables on Rutherienne in the Gamely. Honorable mention: Champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) asserted her utter superiority over four rivals in the January 14 San Gorgonio H. (G2) at Santa Anita, suggesting what a potent force she would be in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at that same course on October 24. Unfortunately, the Todd Pletcher mare met with a setback earlier this year, according to Daily Racing Form, and has not posted an official work since February 17. Wait a While is a powerhouse when she gets the firm turf she loves, and we can only hope that the gray is able to resume her rightful place among the division's top tier during the second half of the season. On the upswing: Another gray daughter of Maria's Mon, CRIMINOLOGIST, continues to throw hints that she is a bona fide Grade 1 performer in the making. The Shug McGaughey pupil concluded 2007 with a four-race winning streak, capped by convincing victories in the Athenia H. (G3) and Cardinal H. (G3). Criminologist's skein was snapped in her 2008 bow in a Keeneland allowance, where she flew home late to just miss by a half-length, but she wasted no time in getting back on the winning track next time out in the April 26 Beaugay H. (G3) at Aqueduct. Under a confident ride by John Velazquez, Criminologist bided her time at the back of the pack early, ranged up into contention turning for home, and overtook the solid French Group 2 queen ALL IS VANITY (Fr) (Gold Away [Ire]) by a cozy half-length. This was a strong effort, made to look easy, by a very classy individual. Criminologist was considerately handled by Velazquez, and I suspect that she had untapped reserves. I can't wait to see this Saratoga course record-holder tackle Grade 1 competition. The newly upgraded Just a Game S. (G1) on Belmont Day might be an option. Also deserving of a nod is COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike), whose eye-catching score in the April 24 Bewitch S. (G3) implies that she has found her niche in the marathon ranks. What made her performance so meritorious was that she reeled in a loose-on-the-lead TEJIDA (Rahy), who was not exactly stopping through the final quarter-mile of the 1 1/2-mile test. To catch her, Communique had to rattle off her last quarter in about :23.35, and she made up more than three lengths inside the final furlong to win going away by a half-length. Despite Tejida's early crawl, the final time of 2:28.91 was a mere .17 off the Keeneland course record. The strength of the Bewitch was underscored when fourth-place finisher FLAWLESS TREASURE (War Chant) romped in the Sabin S. at Belmont in her subsequent start. Communique had turned in some creditable efforts last year, when runner-up in the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) and fourth in the American Oaks Invitational (G1), but she is clearly improving as a four-year-old for Rusty Arnold. It would not be fair if we omitted DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]), who is two-for-two since arriving in the United States and joining Jim Cassidy. Multiple stakes-placed in England in 2007, Diamond Diva has captured the March 30 American Beauty H. at Santa Anita and the April 23 Wilshire H. (G3) at Hollywood. The four-year-old dark bay will face her acid test of class in the Gamely. Good servants: MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) was not the most consistent runner seen last season, but since being sold for $900,000 at Keeneland November and taking up residence with Clement, she has been completely dependable. The five-year-old mare made a winning debut for her new connections in the March 8 The Very One H. (G3), was an honorable second to HOSTESS (Chester House) in the March 30 Orchid H. (G3), and subdued the useful J'RAY (Distant View) in the inaugural running of the Mairzy Doates H. at Calder. Mauralakana is expected to line up in Saturday's Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) at Belmont, where she would likely meet American Oaks queen PANTY RAID (Include), who will try to recover her best form by reverting to turf, and familiar foes Hostess and J'ray. Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) heroine BIT OF WHIMSY (Distorted Humor) was originally listed as probable for the Sheepshead Bay, but Daily Racing Form reports that she would instead await the Just a Game. A stout filly, Bit of Whimsy figures to move forward off her sixth in the Jenny Wiley in her four-year-old debut. All COSTUME (GB) (Danehill) needed to improve her fortunes was a change in tactics. After a string of fourth-place efforts in her first four American outings, the Juddmonte Farms homebred was given the chance to contest the early pace, and she promptly responded with a pair of victories at Santa Anita in the February 18 Buena Vista H. (G2) and the March 23 Santa Ana H. (G2). In each, she opened up in midstretch, only to hang on by a slim margin, while wandering a bit and surviving a stewards' inquiry and an objection, respectively. Costume is an honest, resolute, grinding type, but without a telling burst of acceleration, she could be vulnerable in top company. Although Frankel is considering her for the Gamely, I have an inkling he'll opt for the softer spot on Memorial Day, the Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3) at Lone Star. Missing the mark: Champion DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy) has made lethal use of her tactical speed throughout her career. In her first two starts of 2008 at Tampa Bay Downs, it was a familiar front-running story as she just held on in the February 16 Endeavour S. (G3) and then romped by 6 3/4 lengths in the March 15 Hillsborough S. (G3). The chestnut was forced to taste a dose of her own medicine, however, in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G3) on Kentucky Derby Day. Dreaming of Anna sprang from the gate with her usual alacrity, but instead of being able to outsprint the field from her outside post and angle over, she found a speedy BAYOU'S LASSIE (Outflanker) to her inside intent on securing the lead. Once Cornelio Velasquez aboard Dreaming of Anna realized that he could not get by, he chose to avoid a speed duel going into the first turn, and eased his mount into a stalking second. In the stretch, Dreaming of Anna tried her utmost to overhaul Bayou's Lassie, but the front runner had too much left and eventually pulled 1 1/4 lengths clear. Anna was shouldering the top weight of 124 pounds, giving six pounds to the winner, and she was unflappably game in defeat. Still, she's not quite as lethal without the early lead. Promise on hold: Brazilian Filly Triple Crown heroine COLINA VERDE (Brz) (Know Heights [Ire]) drove to a smart allowance score in her U.S. debut for Neil Drysdale, but the Team Valor International colorbearer did not build on that promising effort when seventh in the Santa Ana and fourth in the Wilshire. She is much better than those bare results, though, and I was looking forward to seeing her regroup. Team Valor International principal Barry Irwin has informed me that Colina Verde is currently sidelined with a fractured splint bone. Once she is ready to resume training, she will be sent to Kiaran McLaughlin on the East Coast, where Irwin explained that Colina Verde's deep-closing style is more likely to prosper. Be on the lookout: The Bill Mott-trained PARIS WINDS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) looks stakes-bound after back-to-back allowance scores. Owned by Swettenham Stud, the chestnut has back class in her homeland. As a sophomore in 2006, she finished third to older Group 1 victress Red Bloom (GB) in the Blandford S. (Ire-G2), beaten by a respectable three lengths. Paris Winds was out of action for nearly 15 months before reappearing with Mott this winter at Gulfstream Park. A troubled second in her return in a January 9 entry-level allowance, she followed up with a clear victory on March 16. Next time out in a second-level allowance at Keeneland, Paris Winds overcame traffic problems in the stretch to get up by a head, zipping her final sixteenth in :5.82. She has been nominated to several graded stakes, most notably the August 9 Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park, and bears watching wherever she goes. On the horizon: Our next installment will cover the Sheepshead Bay, Gamely and Just a Game.
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