Beaugay J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Saturday's $100,000 Beaugay H. (G3) at Aqueduct is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles

on the turf, but with rain in the forecast for both Friday and Saturday, the

test could be run over the main track. With this in mind, MISS SHOP (Deputy

Minister) looks to be the class of the 10-horse field and and we can't pick

against the Allen Jerkens charge. The bay miss fulfills all requirements, owning

wins on the turf as well as on off tracks. She was most recently an easy 6

3/4-length winner of the Rampart H. (G2) on Gulfstream Park's dirt and captured

the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf over that track's grass in late January.

Her BRIS numbers are some of the best in the field, and Miss Shop appears

capable of pulling off her second straight score regardless of the surface.

Rafael Bejarano has the return call.

Fellow Jerkens trainee SWAP FLIPAROO (Exchange Rate) could challenge her

stablemate for the win, but appears more likely for the runner-up spot here. The

gray four-year-old miss captured the Sabin H. (G3) going a mile in February,

then was a one-paced third in the Rampart prior to filling that same spot in

the Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup H. (G2) one week ago. Swap Fliparoo has performed

well on off tracks in the past, owning four seconds from as many starts, and was

even a close second in her only try on the turf. She could fill out a Jerkens

exacta under Channing Hill.

A TRUE PUSSYCAT (Yes It's True) began the year with two straight stakes wins

on Aqueduct's inner dirt before finishing third and second in the Azeri

Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and Next Move H. (G3), respectively, in her last two.

The Tom Bush-trained four-year-old has experience over off surfaces (5-2-0-2)

and has improved her numbers this season. She could be tough in the exotics at a

nice price. Norberto Arroyo Jr. is set to ride.

MASSEUSE (Dynaformer) owns only three off-the-board finishes, with two

coming in her first pair of races in 2004. Since breaking her maiden at Belmont

in 2005, the lightly raced five-year-old has been in search of a first stakes

win, running second in that year's Virginia Oaks and third in the Hillsborough

S. (G3) last out in mid-March. The James Toner trainee has the talent to make a

run for the win, but we're going to tab her for the gimmicks in only her second

start off a more than seven-month break.

ARTISTIC EXPRESS (Western Expression) doesn't seem as speedy as our top

picks, but the chestnut four-year-old has won or been close in six of her last

seven races. She captured the Perfect Arc Division of the New York Stallion S.

most recently and could move up to grab part in her graded debut. FINLANDIA

(Royal Anthem) loves the turf (11-4-3-2) and has been working bullets at Belmont

of late to prepare for her 2007 debut. The five-year-old mare has been beating

up on state-bred stakes competition and could handle the step up here for a

share, but we'll give her a return race before backing for the win. RAHYS'

APPEAL (Rahy) is winless in three starts so far this year but did run second in

the grassy San Gorgonio H. (G2) and third in the main track Santa Maria H. (G1)

before taking a two-month break. She returned last out to finish off the board

in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and will probably relish the return to the turf.

She might surprise in the bottom of the gimmicks.

WAIT IT OUT (Swain [Ire]) owns lower numbers and will be making her seasonal

bow in this spot. We can't recommend. SAMSINCHARGE (Dixie Brass) has been

well beaten in three starts so far this year and we don't think she'll do much

better here. STORMY KISS (Arg) (Bernstein) will be making her turf and route

debut here and didn't do so well in her only start on an off track. She looks out

of her class here.