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Gozzip Girl, Mrs Kipling bookend American Oaks
In contrast, the two fillies last seen at Belmont Park will break from the two innermost posts. Sands Point S. (G2) winner GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer), the more accomplished of the pair, has secured the rail with Kent Desormeaux. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Gozzip Girl captured the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) and Coconut Grove S. at Gulfstream earlier this season, and was also a near-miss runner-up in the Ashland S. (G1) over Keeneland's Polytrack. MAGICAL AFFAIR (Giant's Causeway), a terrific second in the Edgewood S. at Churchill, could muster only fourth behind Gozzip Girl in the Sands Point. The Michael Matz trainee will try to reverse the form on firm turf beneath Julien Leparoux. The three international invitees -- APPLE CHARLOTTE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]), RARE RANSOM (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) and PUTTANESCA (NZ) (Bertolini) -- have drawn posts 4, 5 and 6, respectively. Apple Charlotte ships in from England for Henry Cecil, and Mike Smith picks up the mount. The bay filly is a proven commodity at the 1 1/4-mile trip, having won the Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial S. and lost an agonizing photo in the Lord Weinstock Memorial S. last time out. The New Zealand-bred Puttanesca also boasts a victory over this distance, courtesy of an up-in-time score in the Royal S. (NZ-G2). The Wayne Hillis pupil has also collected three group placings, including a couple of tight finishes in the Desert Gold S. (NZ-G3) and Eulogy S. (NZ-G3). After a 10-week freshening, she recently returned to post a pair of near-miss efforts versus lesser company, likely tighteners in advance of her major target. Top Australian rider Glen Boss comes in to get acquainted with the chestnut, who will carry the top weight of 125 pounds as a four-year-old by Northern Hemisphere reckoning. Irish horseman Dermot Weld, who shipped Dimitrova to win the 2003 American Oaks, will be represented by the Group 2-placed Rare Ransom. A winner against older males at Gowran in her sophomore bow, she comes off a fourth in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1). Stable rider Pat Smullen will guide the bay. Other contenders in the main body of the field include Providencia S. (G2) scorer ACTING LADY (Theatrical [Ire]), most recently second to Well Monied in the Honeymoon; Appalachian S. (G3) queen AFTERNOON STROLL (Stroll), who comes off a third in the American One Thousand Guineas at Arlington Park; Regret S. (G3) runner-up THE BEST DAY EVER (Brahms); and THIRD DAWN (Sky Mesa), second by a nose in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) and most recently third in the Hollywood Oaks (G2) on Cushion Track. Other than Puttanesca, the remaining fillies will each tote 121 pounds.
Bob Baffert will saddle the lightly-raced but highly-regarded sophomore ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled's Song), who has won both of his attempts sprinting on synthetic surfaces. The gray was a smashing maiden winner at Santa Anita in February, and after tiring late in a two-turn experiment, he got back on track with a driving allowance/optional claiming score over the track. Victor Espinoza will reunite with the speed-burner, who gets in with 111 pounds. SIREN LURE (Joyeux Danseur), hero of the 2006 edition of the Triple Bend, seems to be rounding back into form and will be looking to reclaim his crown in this test. Victorious in the Golden Gate Fields Sprint S. earlier this season, he was most recently fourth by just 1 1/2 lengths in the Los Angeles H. (G3). The Art Sherman-trained eight-year-old will have Frank Alvarado aboard while toting a 118-pound impost. Also entered are Grade 2 winner REBELLION (GB) (Mozart [Ire]), runner-up as the defending champion in the Commonwealth S. (G2) two back; Ack Ack second RUSH WITH THUNDER (Tribal Rule); and BET ON VICTOR (Yankee Victor), who filled the place spot in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3) last out.
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