Ballston Spa

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

MY TYPHOON (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) is listed as the 5-2 second choice on the

morning line for Thursday's $200,000 Ballston Spa H. (G2), but we have to

believe she'll go favored. Given her affinity for the Saratoga turf and

excellent present form, the five-year-old mare rates top billing.

My Typhoon broke her maiden at the Spa in 2004 and defeated an excellent

group of rivals when winning last year's edition of the Ballston Spa. She's

five-for-six at 1 1/16 miles, and the Bill Mott runner will bring a three-race

winning skein into this affair, capturing the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland

three back and the Just a Game S. (G2) at Belmont two starts ago. Most recently,

My Typhoon recorded an impressive three-quarter of a length win in the Diana S.

(G1) at Saratoga. She's posted triple-digit BRIS Speed and Late Pace ratings in

each of her recent wins, and My Typhoon will be difficult to stop on Thursday.

MERIBEL (Peaks and Valleys) waited until too late to get untracked in the

Diana but still offered a good rally for fourth, only 1 3/4 lengths behind My

Typhoon. Trained by Christophe Clement, Meribel recorded a sharp score in the

Foresta S. three starts back and would've won the Dr. James Penny Memorial H.

next out if her rider hadn't misjudged the finish line. The four-year-old filly

owns a stout kick, registering a 118 Late Pace figure last time, and there's

some speed in the field. We'll give her the best chance at an upset.

MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) is another threat. She displayed a terrific

turn of foot when capturing the Locust Grove H. (G3) two starts back for Patrick

Biancone, but the four-year-old miss found herself too close to the early pace

in the Diana last time and never fired. We'll look for her to take back under

Julien Leparoux before offering a fine rally for a top-three award.

Champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) is favored at 2-1 on the morning line and

owns the back class to win here. However, her recent form hasn't been at the

same level. She traveled to Hollywood Park in early July for the CashCall Mile

S. (G2) but wound up being scratched after getting sick. The gray filly was a

well-beaten second at 3-5 in the Just a Game last out and finished fifth in the

Jenny Wiley S. (G2) before that. We'll try to beat her at short odds.

AMANSARA (War Chant) will enter on the upswing for conditioner George Weaver

and deserves consideration for the exotics at long odds. The four-year-old filly

exits a solid second over the course in the De La Rose S., and she owns a

respectable 3-0-2-1 turf mark at Saratoga. Amansara will be running late under

Ramon Dominguez.

VACARE (Lear Fan) was very impressive last year, winning the Queen Elizabeth

II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) and the Pucker Up S. (G3), and she opened

this season with a victory in the Magna Distaff S. at Gulfstream. The uncoupled

Clement charge suffered her first career setback when third in the Gamely

Breeders' Cup S.

(G1) in late May, and she'll return off an 87-day freshening here. We respect

Vacare, but we can't recommend her chances.

POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) looks like the likely pacesetter for Mott, but the

five-year-old mare probably needs an easier spot to be effective. DANCE AWAY

CAPOTE (Capote) is facing a difficult class check. IRON GODDESS (More Than

Ready) looks overmatched.