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Ventura seeks repeat in Madison Juddmonte Farms' classy homebred mare VENTURA (Chester House) on Thursday returns in the same spot where she first gained national notice a year ago, the $300,000 Madison S. at Keeneland, a seven-furlong Polytrack heat which will be run as a Grade 1 event for the first time. A minor stakes winner during an eight-race career in England, Ventura has been transformed by trainer Bobby Frankel into a North American star on both synthetic and turf. After capturing her American debut down Santa Anita's hillside turf course, Ventura made her North American stakes debut in the 2008 Madison, then a Grade 2 event, and rallied for a one-length victory. Ventura's subsequent form has been well documented. Later stakes victories include the Just a Game S. (G1) on turf, and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and Santa Monica H. (G1) over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride. The five-year-old has also held her own against males, finishing second in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) in September and narrowly missing when occupying the same position in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) on grass last time. A perfect three-for-three on synthetics in the United States and four-for-five when her record in England is included, Ventura will be difficult to upset under regular rider Garrett Gomez. Another with a fondness for the Keeneland Polytrack is INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos), who puts her two-for-two local record on the line under John Velazquez. The Madison marks the seasonal debut for the four-year-old, who romped by 4 1/4 lengths in the Raven Run S. (G2) when last seen during the 2008 fall meet. BSHARPSONATA (Pulpit), whose signature victories have come over the dirt at Gulfstream Park in the 2008 Davona Dale S. (G2) and Forward Gal S. (G2), has fared well on synthetic surfaces. A neck second over the Keeneland surface in the Ashland S. (G1) a year ago, the Todd Pletcher charge later captured a minor Hollywood Park stakes before garnering show honors in both the La Brea S. (G1) and La Canada S. (G2) in her last two. Canadian champion mare BEAR NOW (Tiznow) is a Polytrack veteran having been based at Woodbine last summer, but did venture south of the border to take the Kentucky Cup Distaff (G3) at Turfway Park. She enters the Madison off distant second-place finishes in both the Azeri S. (G3) and Truly Bound H. on dirt. The remainder of the field will be very long prices. PROUD HEIRESS (Broken Vow) captured the Wishing Well S. at Turfway Park two back; DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai) was third behind Informed Decision in the Raven Run in her lone Polytrack attempt; and AUTHENICAT (D'wildcat), though in possession of a stellar record, has done her best work in Canadian-bred and Ontario-sired events at Woodbine.
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