Beverly D.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

With apologies to Arlington's centerpiece event, the Arlington Million (G1),

Saturday's $750,000 Beverly D. S. (G1) features the deepest field on the

three-race International Festival of Racing program. DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy),

MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) and PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) are perhaps the

three best turf distaffers in the United States, and there's quality in the

remaining cast. Nine will square off in the 1 3/16-mile affair.

Dreaming of Anna likes the turf at Arlington, easily winning both previous

attempts over the local sod, and appears to be entering this event in peak form.

Trained by Arlington dynamo Wayne Catalano (44 percent win rate from 95 starts

this meet), the four-year-old filly exits a sharp front-running score in the 1

1/16-mile Mint Julep H. (G3) at Churchill Downs, recording her third consecutive

triple-digit BRIS Speed rating in the 2 1/2-length decision, and she's proven

extremely effective at nine furlongs, winning three of her last four attempts.

The chestnut will have to stretch out a little in distance, but we don't

envision that being an impediment. Dreaming of Anna is training exceptionally

well by all reports and is well-drawn on the rail with Garrett Gomez. She can

lead all the way.

Mauralakana has taken her game to another level this season. A solid

performer at the graded level previously, she's developed into the best turf

distaffer on the East Coast since being transferred to Christophe Clement over

the winter, winning four-of-five starts, including her last three. The bay is a

strong closer, earning BRIS Late Pace ratings as high as 114, and she'll

probably get more pace to run at this occasion. Her latest wins in the New York

S. (G2) and Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) were both impressive, and Mauralakana figures

to offer another stout late charge under Kent Desormeaux.

COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) could get into the mix at a decent price. A

good-looking 3 3/4-length winner of the Modesty H. (G3) over the course last

out, the Rusty Arnold-trained lass will face a severe step up in class, but

she's really on the improve, winning three of her last four starts, with the

lone setback coming at 1 1/16 miles. Communique likes longer distances, so the 9

1/2 furlongs is the perfect fit, and she owns a terrific late kick. The

four-year-old owns the best chance at an upset.

Precious Kitten looks very dangerous. She exits another top-class

performance, a smart 2 1/4-length tally in the Gamely S. (G1) at Hollywood Park,

but the Bobby Frankel-trained mare exited that start with a quarter crack, which

necessitated a 75-day freshening. We're inclined to try and beat her in this

spot. Precious Kitten has run her best races on the West Coast, winning her last

four starts, including three Grade 1s, in Southern California, and she's the 9-5

favorite on the morning line here. She still figures to sit a perfect stalking

trip under Rafael Bejarano.

ROSINKA (Ire) (Soviet Star) will be up close tracking Dreaming of Anna and

could possibly hold for a small share. The Graham Motion-trained mare doesn't

need the early lead to win, but she's found herself in that spot in her last

three starts. She may benefit from a slight change in tactics, and the

five-year-old showed her class last fall when finishing a close second to

champion Lahudood (GB) in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1). Consider for the

exotics at long odds.

CICEROLE (Fr) (Barathea [Ire]) exits a runner-up effort in a Group 3 event at

Epsom Downs, and the French-based filly can't be completely dismissed from top-three

consideration on Saturday. The Jean-Claude Rouget trainee is very honest,

registering a 3-3-0 mark in her last six outings, and has been off-the-board only

once in her 10-race career. The far outside post is a drawback, however, and we'll have

to let Cicerole beat us.

MERIBEL (Peaks and Valley) is a fine closer, but she might need softer

company to be a factor. CIAO (Lear Fan) is likely facing too much of a class

hike. French invader TOQUE DE QUEDA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) will stretch out in

distance off three starts at a mile this season, but there is little in her 2008

form to indicate she can challenge here.