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AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
A crowded field of 10 two-year-old fillies will travel one mile over the main track at Arlington in the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie S. (G3) on Sunday. CHANGE UP (Distorted Humor) and DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy) have both looked superb and deserve to rank as the two favorites, but we'll look elsewhere for a winner with value. SUTRA (Meadowlake) debuted on Arlington Million (G1) Day and turned in one of the finer performances of that afternoon, overcoming problems at the start to pull away to a handy 2 3/4-length win. Trained by Michael Stidham, the dark bay topped a solid field that day and has trained well, leading us to believe that she's primed for another top effort. The rail draw and the stretch-out to one mile only add to the positives, as does the presence of Shaun Bridgmohan. The Wayne Catalano-trained Dreaming of Anna is unbeaten in two lifetime outings and would not surprise with a win in this big field. She's coming off a 7 1/4-length triumph in a turf stakes at Colonial Downs, in which she set a new 5 1/2-furlong course record of 1:01 3/5. A full sister to stakes-winning and Grade 2-placed sophomore Lewis Michael, the chestnut filly is bred to run all day, so the distance shouldn't pose a problem, and she hails from the most potent barn on the grounds. A strong :58 2/5 drill last Sunday signals the well-bred filly's readiness, and she'll be guided by jockey Rene Douglas, a past master at Arlington. Change Up has looked awesome in her last two wins, including a dominating effort in the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S. over subsequent Grade 1 heroine Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal) most recently. The Steve Flint trainee is bred to handle the trip and has been staying on strongly in the latter stages of her starts, so we see the miss as another win candidate. Jockey Jesus Castanon must keep the chestnut out of a speed duel early in order to optimize her finish. LENARO (Buddha) has placed in two stakes races already and should cope with the added distance here, so we'll give the gray a top-three chance. Trained by Robert Holthus, the March foal was ultra-impressive in her 5 1/4-length debut win at Churchill, and has followed that up with some useful efforts in stakes company. The daughter of Buddha may lack the explosiveness of her counterparts, but her consistency should get her a nice paycheck. NOLA STAR (Three Wonders) is the mystery horse in the field, coming off a 16 1/2-length maiden tally for trainer Ken McPeek. The Florida-bred has earned low BRIS Speed figures in her two starts but has been visually impressive in both, making the analysis of her that much more confusing. We wouldn't be surprised to see the chestnut in striking position turning for home and from there, it's your call. SEA THE JOY (Stormy Atlantic), the lone multiple stakes winner in the field, has reeled off three straight wins and will step up to one mile for the initial time. The Scott Blasi charge has been defeating lesser competition and gets a true class test here, which could be her eventual undoing. If the lass could manage a sensible trip, a top-three placing is well within reach. LITTLEBITABLING (Carson City) has crushed cheaper foes and will step up a few rungs on the class ladder for Timothy Hamm. The Ohio-bred appears to have a daunting task as she will be just one of several in here with early zip. A half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Too Much Bling (Rubiano), the dark bay will look to follow in her sibling's footsteps, though she may have picked a spot too tough to do so. LISA M (Banker's Gold) was a sharp maiden winner but regressed quite a bit in the Top Flight S., making her hard to back here. NATALICAT (Tactical Cat) seems to be a cut below these at this time. CALL THE KITTY (Langfuhr) looked good in a recent maiden tally at Ellis Park but will have to step up her game considerably to factor.
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