Ballston Spa

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A solid field of turf distaffers will travel 1 1/16-miles in Saturday's

$200,000 Ballston Spa H. (G2) at Saratoga. We'll side with budding turf star

PHOLA (Johannesburg) for trainer Todd Pletcher. The dark bay filly impressed in

a big way with a rousing late run to bag the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2)

three back and didn't disappoint when finishing a fine second in the Just A Game

S. (G1) two back. She finished sixth when behind a dawdling pace in the Diana S.

(G1) most recently. The Kentucky-bred ranks 1st in BRIS Prime Power (167.6) and

should be tough to hold off under Ramon Dominguez.

We've long liked MARAM (Sahm) and will tab the four-year-old to complete the

exacta in this one. Hailing from the hot barn of Chad Brown, the dark bay has

two wins in three tries over this course, with her lone loss coming in a close

fifth-place finish in the Diana last out. The Kentucky-bred could be ready for a

top showing in her fourth off the bench, as she has a versatile running style

that should have her in the mix at the top of the lane. Jose Lezcano keeps the

assignment.

Dance Smartly S. (Can-G2) victress MEKONG MELODY (Ire) (Cape Cross [Ire])

defeated a solid field most recently and deserves a good amount of respect in

this field with John Velazquez. The Roger Attfield trainee ran a big one most

recently in her first off the shelf, and if she improves any, she'll be a big

player late in here despite drawing the widest post.

Grade 2-placed MISS KELLER (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) is in the best form of her

career for conditioner Roger Attfield and deserves respect in this spot. The bay

filly bagged the De La Rose S. over this oval in advance of this and got a cozy

rail draw under Javier Castellano. The four-year-old will be a late threat.

Diana S. fourth DYNASLEW (Dynaformer) has put in a quartet of fine efforts

since joining the Seth Benzel barn and rates a chance in here with slight

improvement. The speedy dark bay sports a fine 12-4-4-0 turf mark, likes this

oval and has never been better, so we'd be foolish not to consider the peaking

filly. Eibar Coa has the return call atop the Florida-bred. CHEROKEE QUEEN

(Cherokee Run) has risen to new levels since finding her way to the shedrow of

conditioner Marty Wolfson, sandwiching a pair of stakes wins around a nice

fourth in the Just A Game earlier this campaign. The dark bay mare has good

tactical speed and gets the services of Julien Leparoux, so she's another we

must use in our exotics plays.

Locust Grove H. (G3) heroine DANZON (Royal Academy) has finished in the top

three in nine straight affairs, and while she'll be facing better in here than

she's seen in recent tries, her current form suggests that she can be included

in the gimmicks at a big price. SILVER REUNION (Harlan's Holiday) wired the

Riskaverse S. over this course last season and could be the speed in this test

for Graham Motion. Unraced since October, the four-year-old might need one

before getting our endorsement.

STRIKE THE BELL (Mizzen Mast) might be a cut below the top ones in here for

trainer David Donk. Multiple stakes queen SCOLARA (Quiet American) has yet to

prove that she will be a major player against this type, so we'll limit her

usage to the exotics.