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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
An octet of fillies and mares will vie in the grassy, $200,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow), the defending champ in this race for trainer Michael Stidham, is our pick to defend her title on the front end beneath Garrett Gomez. A winner in both 2010 stakes starts at Fair Grounds, the speedy five-year-old should have things her own way for the majority of this race over a course that often plays to speed when it's wet. Dual Group 3 star FANTASIA (GB) (Sadler's Wells) had a nice U. S. debut when a closing second in an allowance event at Keeneland, and the accomplished bay must be considered a candidate to take this field down late under Julien Leparoux. The filly earned a whopping 121 BRIS Late Pace figure for her recent effort and likely wouldn't mind if the ground had some give to it. MISS KELLER (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) fits well with this group and has a big chance from the rail for conditioner Roger Attfield. The bay four-year-old has kept fine company in her four U.S. starts and had a nice prep win in advance of this at Keeneland in her four-year-old debut. The bay should be rolling late with Javier Castellano. Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) heroine HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge) impressed us when third in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) in her seasonal debut for Phil Sims, and we consider the four-year-old a big exotics player against this group. The Kentucky-bred filly has earned strong 105, 103 and 119 Late Pace ratings in her previous trio of races and could upset this field with a perfect trip. Dual Grade 1 queen DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) made little headway in her four starts in Southern California and hopes to rebound in her debut for new conditioner Jim Corrigan. The last two Grade 1 tries for the six-year-old on moisture-laden turf resulted in victories, and while the lass was in better form at the time, we will not rule her out from running down this field under Robby Albarado. PHOLA (Johannesburg) looked the part in a 4 1/4-length romp in the Hillsborough S. (G3) last out for Todd Pletcher, and the dark bay would be a huge threat if the turf had some give to it. The improved filly might have a lot to do late against these but she is worth including beneath Ramon Dominguez. Grade 1 lass HOOH WHY (Cloud Hopping) is unplaced in her lone turf try and looks to be in deep with this field. CURE FOR SALE (Arg) (Not for Sale) has been very consistent and can handle any kind of turf, but she seems best suited for the lower rungs of the exotics.
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