Azeri J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The exciting ACOMA (Empire Maker) will maker her four-year-old debut in the

$150,000 Azeri S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, and the classy bay could be

the beneficiary of a dream trip in this one for David Carroll. A winner in five

of her last seven starts, including the Mrs. Revere S. (G2), Valley View S. (G3)

and Dogwood S. (G3), the Kentucky-bred could be better on the grass than she is

on the main oval, but it's obvious that she is of high quality and we expect her

to rally to a win beneath Julien Leparoux.

BEAR NOW (Tiznow) finished second in the Truly Bound H. last out when making in her first outing

for Albert Stall. Jr., and the speedy mare should

be ready for her best in this affair. The dark bay Kentucky-bred is arguably the

class of the field and will be no surprise with her best. Jamie Theriot will be

in the irons.

SMART SURPRISE (Smart Strike) has won three in succession for Josie Carroll,

including a tally in the Chou Croute H. in her latest affair which she earned a

103 BRIS Speed figure. The chestnut mare has improved a ton and has remarkably

never been off the board in 15 lifetime starts, so we'll include the obvious

exotics threat under Robby Albarado.

Recent Pippin S. queen FRENCH KISS (Hussonet) is two for two in

2009, both of which were at this venue and distance, and each was accomplished

in last-to-first fashion for Gary Hartlage. The late-running bay should see some

swift splits in front of her, but we can't see her passing all of these on this

occasion.

MAREN'S MEADOW (Meadowlake) defeated our top pick in the Monmouth Oaks (G3)

by 4 1/2 lengths last summer for Larry Jones, but the bay would be a surprise if

she did the same in here. The fleet filly is drawn widest of all and has gotten

her best results when racing on the early lead, which looks like a busy place in

this line-up. Terry Thompson will be aboard.

COLOR ME UP (Aptitude), third in the Pippin S. last out, has never been worse

than third over this oval for D. Wayne Lukas and could be an exotics threat with

a sensible ride from Israel Ocampo. The bay four-year-old has run some good ones

in the past and if she fires big, she can get a small piece. INITFORTHEKANDY (Kandaly)

was a facile allowance winner in advance of this and is yet another who could

make a splash in the exotics pool for Jeff Talley.

DEVIL HOUSE (Chester House) will make her debut for conditioner Lynn Whiting

in this one and the mare is expected to add a good amount of pace to this field

under Calvin Borel. The bay lass drew post 2 for this engagement and could

be the inside speed of the race, but we're not expecting to see her around late.