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AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
Nine sophomore fillies will dash six furlongs over Belmont Park's main oval in the $300,000 Prioress S. (G1). Acorn S. (G1) heroine GABBY'S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d'Oro) has smoked a pair of bullet half-miles leading up to this for Bob Baffert and is, in our minds, the clear horse to beat in this affair. The ultra-talented filly did receive a dream pace scenario in her last, but she proved that she can rate (on the lead) and she could be the recipient of another perfect trip sitting just off the early pace. The dark bay will be formidable with something resembling her best under Javier Castellano. SELVA (Forest Wildcat) has been first or second in all six of her lifetime tries for trainer David Carroll, finishing a strong second in the Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland in her latest race. The dark bay owns excellent tactical speed and a good late kick, and her draw near the outside should be ideal. Rajiv Maragh has the call aboard the Kentucky-bred, who could win with some luck. BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) was a useful fifth in the Acorn last out and might benefit from the cutback in trip for D. Wayne Lukas. The dark bay is fast, and while she's yet to earn a BRIS Speed number higher than 94, we wouldn't be surprised to see her crash the exotics party. LIGHT GREEN (Pleasantly Perfect) has scored BRIS Speed figures of 100 and 104 in her previous two tries, including a romp in the Fall Aspen S. over this strip. The Todd Pletcher charge hasn't been headed in three of her last four races and is peaking at the right time, so we surely can't dismiss her chances for a top three finish in this spot. John Velazquez will ride. HEART ASHLEY (Lion Heart) has rolled to three wins in succession for Steve Asmussen, including the Cicada S. (G3) and Miss Preakness S. (G3) in her previous two tests. The chestnut has compiled monstrous BRIS E2 Speed numbers in her last four suggesting that she'll be in the mix turning for home beneath Edgar Prado. LUSTER (Touch Gold) has steadily improved for Albert Stall Jr. and drew the rail for this endeavor. The Kentucky-bred was a good second in the Dogwood S. (G3) against a repeat winner and she has enough early speed to keep touch early, and while we can't see her winning this, we wouldn't be surprised if she crosses the line in third or fourth under Cornelio Velasquez. CAT MOVES (Tale of the Cat) has toyed with a pair of fields for conditioner Tony Dutrow. The bay filly hasn't beaten anything like the competition here and she's faced only four rivals in each of her two career starts, so it's difficult to back the speedster on this occasion. If the Virginia-bred does beat this field, she'll be something special. ON THE MENU (Canadian Frontier) has been a steady performer against a bit lesser for Larry Jones, winning or placing in four consecutive listed stakes. We're not sure how much more improvement the filly has in her and we're not thrilled about her drawing widest of all, so we feel compelled to let her beat us. REFORESTATION (Forestry) is on the improve and likes this strip, but we can't tab the miss for anything on the class hike.
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