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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
A superb field of 10 will go postward to contest the $200,000 Jenny Wiley S. (G2) over the Keeneland turf on Saturday. This race should be upgraded to Grade 1 status due to the stars that will align in here, and we feel that we could go any number of ways to pick the winner. PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) had a marvelous 2007 campaign, finishing first or second in eight of her nine graded tries, with the lone exception coming when she was taken completely out of the race in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The five-year-old just missed in this race last year, which was inexplicably run on the Polytrack, and she is a much better animal on the turf. Rafael Bejarano will guide the dark bay, who should be in the mix from the opening bell. LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) has as good a turn of foot as just about any when she is right, and we like her to complete the exacta on this day. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee has won two of her three starts over this oval and sports a nifty 13-7-2-2 career mark, so her inclusion in all of the gimmicks is warranted. The chestnut has been training well in advance of this and would benefit greatly if the pace is on the quick side early. Edgar Prado will be in the irons. We've always been big fans of ROSHANI (Fantastic Light) and feel that the talented Todd Pletcher trainee could sneak into the trifecta with her tactical speed. A winner of the Matchmaker S. (G3) in her penultimate 2007 start, the dark bay looked real good in posting a facile allowance/optional claiming score at Santa Anita in her yearly bow and seems poised for a top showing in her second try off the shelf. The five-year-old is well positioned in the two post, owns excellent speed and has posted triple-digit BRIS Late Pace figures in five of her last six outings. John Velazquez has the assignment. Canadian Horse of the Year SEALY HILL (Point Given) has been first or second in eight of her last 10 outings, with the lone blemish coming in last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) for conditioner Mark Casse. The dark bay was last seen finishing a superb second in the E. P. Taylor (Can-G1) and has trained well in the interim, so she has a logical chance at a top-three showing in here beneath Patrick Husbands. The late-running RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) showed guts in taking the Francis A. Genter S. (G3) at Calder to conclude her sophomore campaign, and the Christophe Clement-trained Kentucky-bred is primed for a big 2008. The dark bay is a win machine, finishing first in eight of her 10 lifetime outings, and she has proven to fire when fresh in the past. We are somewhat skeptical in her first start out of her age group against such an accomplished group, but her best gives her a chance. Fellow four-year-old BIT OF WHIMSY (Distorted Humor) captured the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) over this surface last year for Barclay Tagg and will hope to build on that success in this season. The chestnut vastly improved in the latter part of last season and could be heading toward a big season for Tagg, but like Rutherienne, this one has never faced stakes foes out of her age group and couldn't be in much tougher on this day. Javier Castellano will pilot the exotics threat. SWINGIT (Victory Gallop) is a hard-knocking closer for Hal Wiggins but will need something better than she has shown previously to put a dent in this group. STORMY WEST (Gone West) is a solid turf performer who would surprise with a top-four showing. We love Bill Mott and Kent Desormeaux, but not even the connections could sway us in her direction. ARRAVALE (Arch) hasn't won since she was three when she topped a nice field in the E. P. Taylor, and the outside draw will certainly not do her any favors in here. We like the dark bay in general, but she appears to be in tough on this occasion. CANDY BALL (Lemon Drop Kid) has good momentum leading into this but has yet to prove she belongs with this type.
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