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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
A full field of 14 turf distaffers is set to travel 1 3/8 miles in the $100,000 The Very One S. (G3), and we'll give LONG APPROACH (Broad Brush) a slight edge in the contentious event. Trained by Jonathon Sheppard, the six-year-old mare hasn't visited the winner's circle since winning three straight races at Delaware Park in 2007, but she's been close on several occasions, recording a runner-up finish in the La Prevoyante H. (G2) last season. Long Approach ran well last time when opening her 2010 campaign in the February 6 Suwannee River S. (G3), finishing fifth by only 1 1/2 lengths after altering course in the stretch, and netted a 105 BRIS Late Pace rating. We love the fact that Sheppard wheels her right back off a three-week rest, and the Pennsylvania-bred is well-drawn in post 4 with Julien Leparoux. The stalker has a good shot to return to the winner's circle on Saturday. CHANGING SKIES (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), a French Group 3 runner-up, turned in a couple of solid efforts in the United States last fall and will return to the races off a four-month freshening on Saturday. Trainer Bill Mott excels with layoff horses and distance shouldn't be a problem given her European form, and we give the five-year-old mare a chance at an upset (15-1 morning line). She netted terrific BRIS Late Pace ratings last fall (108 and 106) and doesn't face the stiffest competition here. BELLE ALLURE (Ire) (Numerous) merits respect in her second start of the season for Christophe Clement. Winner of the Athenia S. (G3) in her 2009 finale, the French Group 3 winner never offered a serious challenge when trying the Gulfstream turf in the Marshua's River S. last out, but she was beaten only three lengths that afternoon. The five-year-old mare earned commendable top BRIS Speed and Late Pace numbers last year, and she's eligible to show much more off the tightener. CABLE (Dynaformer) is another contender from the Clement stable. The gray mare has displayed a fine finishing kick in her last three starts, registering a 111 BRIS Late Pace rating for her fast-closing second in the Suwannee River most recently, and she's bred to handle the added ground here. The 11-furlong distance remains a bit of a concern for the lightly-raced five-year-old, but it will be no surprise to see her challenge for it all. KIAWAH CAT (Lemon Drop Kid) also merits consideration for the exotics. We're not convinced that this is her best distance, but Mott gave her a tune-up last time in a 1 7/16-mile allowance/optional claiming event and the four-year-old filly missed by only a nose in second. She'll get a new rider in Corey Nakatani and will look to make an impact from just off the pace. LADY SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]) didn't receive the best post (14) and has been scratched from two recent races by trainer Roger Attfield. The stakes-winning filly exits a close second in the Marshua's River, missing by only a head, and has the breeding to handle the trip, so we'll probably include her on the bottom of a couple of tickets. Brazilian Horse of the Year CELTIC PRINCESS (Brz) (Public Purse) opened her U.S. racing career with a second in the My Charmer S. on Polytrack two starts back and experienced trouble prior to finishing fifth in a turf allowance/optional claiming over the course last time. She's eligible to run better for trainer Eduardo Caramori, but we're not ready to endorse her chances on the stretch-out versus graded rivals. CLOSEOUT (Repriced) will look to come running late under Edgar Prado. The Tom Proctor mare shows some respectable efforts over the past two seasons, but she finished a one-paced fourth in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita last time and has never raced over the turf at Gulfstream. We're not convinced that she's sharp enough to challenge. MORENA (Per) (Privately Held) is a long-winded sort who will be trying the turf for the first time for Michael Matz. The six-year-old mare turned in some respectable efforts last season, placing in both the Personal Ensign (G1) and Falls City H. (G2), but we'll give her a race on the sod. IN MY GLORY (Honour and Glory) will show speed from the start, but she's never raced farther than nine furlongs and is zero-for-four at the 1 1/8-mile distance. We'll let the front runner beat us. ZASKAR (GB) (Anabaa) has showed speed in her last four starts but could revert to stalking tactics in this spot for John Terranova. She's run poorly in all four U.S. starts versus graded rivals and doesn't show a tightener for this effort after winding up 2009 on a bad note. Recent allowance winner RCUANDRY (A.P. Indy) will need to draw into the field from the also-eligibles list, and we're willing to give her a start against stakes rivals from an extreme outside post. MYSTIC MIRACLE (Unbridled's Song), NEHANTIC CAT (Tomorrows Cat) and PROUD LISA (Proud Citizen) don't appear fast enough to contend. JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back) is entered for the main-track only and loves a wet track (15-8-1-1).
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