Appalachian

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

An overflow field of 12 sophomore fillies has been entered to go a mile on

Keeneland's turf Wednesday in the $125,000 Appalachian S. (G3), and MUCH OBLIGED

(Kingmambo) could continue her current win streak in this spot. The Malcolm

Pierce-trained bay broke her maiden on the turf at Fair Grounds going about a

mile two back, then returned one month later to take an allowance/optional

claimer under the same conditions to prepare for this one. Much Obliged earned a

nice 96 BRIS Late Pace rating for her last score and will get Robby Albarado back in the saddle while making her stakes debut.

ALWAJEEHA (Dixieland Band) also broke her maiden going a mile on the turf,

but immediately stepped up to face stakes competition when trying the Tropical

Park Oaks on New Year's Day. She missed by 1 1/2 lengths in that one while

second, then filled that same spot in an allowance at 8 1/2 furlongs in late

February last out. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the bay lass has been working

at Palm Meadows but moved to Keeneland's Polytrack and posted a nice four

furlongs in :48 2/5 on April 2. She'll get a rider switch to John Velazquez in

this spot.

ABSOLUTELY CINDY (Arch) is taking a step down here after running sixth in the

Ashland S. (G1) most recently. Prior to that one, the Keith Kinmon trainee

defeated the boys in the John Battaglia Memorial S., but both of those starts

came over the Polytrack. Absolutely Cindy owns a 1-2-1 mark from four tries on

the turf, including a third in the Tropical Park Oaks and a victory in Churchill

Downs' Caressing H. She gets the hot-riding Jamie Theriot in the irons for this

one, and could find herself returning to the winner's circle.

Group 3-placed SWEEPSTAKE (Ire) (Acclamation) finished second in her U.S.

debut, the Mardi Gras S., then returned to dominate the 8 1/2-furlong Bedanken

S. by six lengths most recently. The David Carroll charge will be tough to hold

off here, but we're willing to just tab for the exotics under Garrett Gomez at

likely low odds.

NAMASTE'S WISH (Pulpit) will be making her 2008 bow in in this spot after

running fifth in the Epitome Breeders' Cup S. in her juvenile finale. The Bill

Mott-conditioned bay earned a spot in that race after taking the Miss Grillo S.

at Belmont, and could offer some value in the gimmicks off the break. LICKETY

LEMON (Lemon Drop Kid) just missed by a neck in the Jessamine S. over

Keeneland's turf last season, but didn't do so well in the Bedanken while making

her three-year-old debut last out. She may have needed that race returning from

the layoff, and could earn part here with Patrick Husbands in the saddle for

trainer Mark Casse.

I LOST MY CHOO (Western Expression) brings a three-race win streak into this

spot, but she needed every inch of her past two at 1 1/16 miles to get the win.

She might fall short here at short odds. MAGGER BAGS (Indian Charlie) has shown

much more racing on turf than she did competing on the dirt, but was well-back

in second in the Bedanken last out. She might not be fast enough to keep up

here. FASHION ROCKS (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) is something of a question

mark as she'll be making her U.S. debut in this spot while getting first-time

Lasix. The bay lass could jump up in a big way, but we're willing to let her

beat us and just see how she handles her first start stateside. VANCY PANTS (Van

Nistelrooy) hasn't shown much from three starts on the turf and probably needs

an easier spot.

FAREENA (Point Given) and MRS PETOSKI (Orientate) are both on the

also-eligible list and would need someone to scratch to get in. Of the two,

Fareena probably has the best chance at challenging for the win.