Alabama

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight sophomore fillies will travel the demanding distance of 1 1/4 miles at

Saratoga on Saturday in the $600,000 Alabama S. (G1). This unique race is a true

test of class and stamina, as running 10 furlongs over this oval is a grueling

task.

We've always liked FUNNY MOON (Malibu Moon), and we're expecting a

career-best from the Christophe Clement trainee on this day. A rallying winner

of the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last out, the developing Kentucky-bred

has decent tactical speed, is bred to handle this trip and gets leading rider

Alan Garcia to boot. It should not be overlooked that Funny Moon was making her

two-turn debut in the Coaching Club, and big improvement is expected with a

logical trip. We think that the lass has star potential.

CASANOVA MOVE (Langfuhr), a close fourth in the Coaching Club in her debut for

Todd Pletcher, is bred top and bottom to endure this distance as well as any

runner in the field, so we'll tab the dark bay for an exacta filler at a good

price. The one-time winner seemingly always settles for a minor award and she

might be a bit slow for most fields, but this 1 1/4-mile distance often lessens the gap

between animals and she should prosper from it. The presence of Jose Lezcano,

instead of last-out pilot John Velazquez, should enhance the price.

Delaware Oaks (G2) romper CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit) looked like a machine in her

dirt debut last out, posting a 110 BRIS Speed number while dusting a decent

group by 7 1/4 lengths. The budding star has won three straight in facile fashion

and we have no reason to believe that she won't be a big factor yet again for

Josie Carroll. The gray filly has excellent early speed, a key in this race, and

if they let her lope along early she might be very hard to reel in beneath

Robert Landry.

Canadian invader MILWAUKEE APPEAL (Milwaukee Brew) has been a top performer

in her two campaigns to date and has to be viewed as a win threat in this field.

Third in the Queen's Plate S. and a close second in the Prince of Wales S. (her

dirt debut) in her last pair, the filly is adept at handling a route of ground

and has more bottom to her than anything in the field. We are very concerned,

however, about the fact that the three-time stakes heroine is drawn wide in here

and could be giving ground to her foes with every stride. The switch to jockey

Velazquez should be a good one.

WYNNING RIDE (Candy Ride [Arg]) led very late before getting caught in the

Coaching Club last out for Bob Baffert in her first try on the main oval. The

chestnut filly is clearly better at route racing and seems to enjoy the dirt.

While we don't like her chances at winning, we see no reason why she

can't duplicate her third-place effort in this affair beneath Kent Desormeaux. DON'T FORGET GIL (Kafwain) endured traffic issues when second in the Coaching

Club, and the hard-trying Mark Henning trainee is an exotics threat in this

engagement. The Empire State-bred should be in the mix early, and if she can

save ground under Rajiv Maragh, the filly should finish well.

BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) rolled home in the off-the-turf Lake George S. (G3) last

out for D. Wayne Lukas, and has proven an affinity for this oval with that win,

but we have our reservations about backing her at this trip against this

caliber of opponent. The talented Florida-bred will have to beat us in this

field. SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled's Song) was a closing second at big odds in the

Arlington Oaks (G3) last out and will ship in from the Midwest for conditioner

Eric Reed. The dark bay filly has some ability and is in a nice improving

pattern, but she's a cut below on the class meter and would be a surprise to be

in the top three at the finish.