Azeri

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) runner-up HYSTERICALADY (Distorted Humor) will

return to a dirt track in Sunday's $175,000 Azeri S. (G3), and the classy

five-year-old mare rates top billing. The Jerry Hollendorfer charge is simply

much better on dirt than synthetic tracks. Her three best races last year --

romps in the Humana Distaff (G1) and Molly Pitcher H. (G2) and a close second to

eventual champion Ginger Punch (Awesome Again) in the Breeders' Cup -- came on

dirt. She dropped three attempts on synthetic tracks in Southern California last

season.

The final straw came in the Santa Monica H. (G1) at Santa Anita on February

2. Hollendorfer brought the chestnut back in that spot, but Hystericalady

refused to pick up her feet over the synthetic going, finishing a dull fourth.

That made the choice simple for her connections -- get her out of California.

She's trained forwardly for her start at Oaklawn Park, and Robby Albarado will

pick up the mount. Hystericalady will be up close to the pace with her natural

speed, and we'll look for a return to the winner's circle.

KETTLEONEUP (Victory Gallop) will enter the Azeri in top form, winning her

last three starts, including a smart 2 1/4-length tally in her 2008 bow, the

February 16 Pippin S. at Oaklawn. The Grade 2-winning mare owns a 2-2-0 mark

from four starts in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but Kettleoneup is a one-run closer

with little speed in Sunday's field. She did capture the Falls City H. (G2) off

a slow pace at Churchill last fall, but Kettleoneup's rally could come up a bit

short here.

GASIA (Silver Deputy) is a three-time winner at Oaklawn, capturing last

year's Bayakoa S. over the strip, and she finished a decent second in the Pippin

last out. Given her affinity for the surface, the Larry Jones runner owns some

appeal for the exotics at a price. However, we'd be surprised to see her

challenge the top two.

BROWNIE POINTS (Forest Wildcat) is another candidate for a share. A stakes

winner over the track, the Donnie Von Hemel pupil owns a 4-1-2-1 mark at Oaklawn

and has never finished out of the money in five lifetime starts at 8 1/2

furlongs. Brownie Points will look to rally from just off the pace.

CLEVER STRIKE (Smart Strike) could be a pace factor, but she's had more

success sprinting. LEMON DROP MOM (Lemon Drop Kid) ran well at Delaware Park

last season, but she'll be tested for class here.