Beaumont

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Five sophomore fillies will square off over the about seven-furlong Beard

Course distance at Keeneland in Thursday's $250,000 Beaumont S. (G2), and PUNCH APPEAL

(Successful Appeal) looks tough to handle from post 5. A five-time stakes

winner, the Steve Asmussen-trained miss can lead or rate and is her best going

middle distances. She's well drawn to the outside in this short field and we

like the rider change to John Velazquez. Punch Appeal ended last season in good

form and should be ready to roll off the freshening. We'll give her a slight

edge in this competitive affair.

BROOKE'S HALO (Southern Halo) is very quick and could prove difficult to run

down on the front end. The added distance is a concern for the lightly raced

filly, but her BRIS Speed ratings are solid and the chestnut owns room for

improvement. Victor Espinoza is in from California to ride the promising lass in

her graded debut.

IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile) gets a positive rider switch to Rafael Bejarano

and is a threat to wear down the speed in the stretch. She was flying late in

the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) last out, missing by just a nose on the wire, but

Keeneland tends to be a speed-favoring oval. If the track is playing fair, we'll

give her more serious consideration.

HOT STORM (Stormy Atlantic) is one-for-one at Keeneland and two-for-two over

wet tracks. The Dallas Stewart-trained bay exits a fine third-place effort in

her graded bow, earning a commendable 97 Speed rating, and could carve out a

perfect stalking trip here under Jerry Bailey. Consider for the top three.

ASPEN TREE (Holy Bull) is a late-running lass from the Carl Nafzger shedrow

and hasn't been much of a factor in two starts this season. We'll look for more

from the Grade 2-placed runner at Churchill Downs.