Ashland J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Five-time Grade 1 champion STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) headlines the $400,000

Ashland S. (G1) on Saturday at Keeneland, which attracted nine fillies. While

the classy gray may have shown a chink in the armor after her narrow victory in

the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) last out, we still like her in this spot in her third

try off the shelf. Now under the care of Richard Dutrow, the impressive

sophomore miss has a one-run style that may or may not be conducive to this

course, but she's still the class of the race and you might get the best price

on here in recent memory. Mike Smith stays atop the filly.

Herecomesthebride S. (G3) vixen GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer) is a multiple turf stakes

heroine who can run all day, and we see no reason why she can't challenge for

the win if she makes the transition to the Polytrack. The Tom Albertrani filly

should be rolling late.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) has been very good on dirt

but must negotiate a different surface in this test while going further than she

ever has to date. We've always thought highly of this filly and give her a big

chance to round out the trifecta at a square price.

NAN (High Yield) has run some sneaky good races as of late for Craig Dollase

and drew the inside post for this difficult assignment. The Kentucky-bred has

never been worse than fourth on turf and synthetic, and she showed a lot of late

run at 1 1/16 miles last out in the Santa Anita Oaks, indicating that nine panels could be right up her

alley. We give the miss an outside chance at the win.

Unbeaten WHAT A PEAR (E Dubai) has rolled to a quartet of wins in the Empire

State, including a most impressive romp in the Busher S. in her latest. The

smart filly has never been better but is still a question mark on this surface.

We'll use her in everything with cautious optimism.

DREAM EMPRESS (Bernstein) bagged the Alcibiades S. (G1) as a juvenile and

finished a big second to Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to wrap up a

superb two-year-old campaign for Ken McPeek. The talented bay has yet to live up

to the lofty expectations set for her entering this season, but

she could easily rebound with a big showing back on her home soil. Kent Desormeaux will be on the filly, who must be used in the exotics.

HOOH WHY (Cloud Hopping) was a head third in the Santa Anita Oaks and has some

solid Polytrack form from her freshman campaign at Woodbine. The chestnut has

amassed a solid 8-2-3-2 synthetic mark and seemingly enjoys two-turn racing, so

we'll surely use the Florida-bred.

THIRD DAWN (Sky Mesa) was a surprising second in the Santa Anita Oaks, but

we'll let her beat us in this spot at overbet odds. BOLEYN (Proud Citizen) will make her artificial surface debut for Todd

Pletcher and drew the widest post. While we do acknowledge the

talent of this filly, she looks a cut below these.