Beverly Hills J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The absence of divisional leader Tuscan Evening (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) from

Saturday's Beverly Hills H. (G3) renders the 1 1/4-mile turf affair wide open,

from flag-fall to finish. Indeed, part of the handicapping conundrum involves

the pace scenario. It's sure to be tepid at best, and it's not perfectly clear

who will seize the early initiative at Hollywood Park. In the murky

circumstances, we'll stick with the back class in PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry

[Ire]) and hope that she turns the corner third time out for Carl O'Callaghan.

Previously conditioned by Michael Matz, the Texas-bred improved over the

course of last season and eventually upset champion Forever Together (Belong to

Me) in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. Princess Haya next finished third

in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), best of the North American contingent, in her

only attempt at the Beverly Hills distance. She was later transferred to

O'Callaghan in Southern California, where she was expected to thrive on the firm

ground. After rallying for fifth in the one-mile Wilshire H. (G3) in her debut

for the barn, Princess Haya threw in a clunker in the Gamely S. (G1), winding up

a tailed-off last. She exited the race with a lung infection and has been

training sharply since her recovery, so we'll give her a pass on that one and

look forward to a much improved performance. We like that she removes the

blinkers and gets the services of the up-and-coming Christian Santiago Reyes.

GENERAL CONSENSUS (Giant's Causeway) has been chasing Tuscan Evening all

spring. Perhaps significantly, her best result was a runner-up effort in the

Santa Barbara H. (G2) at this 1 1/4-mile trip. General Consensus lay closer to

the pace in the Santa Barbara, and she just might go to the front for new rider

Rafael Bejarano. The Paddy Gallagher mare employed front-running tactics early

in 2009, so she's capable of doing so if conditions warrant.

TURNING TOP (Ire) (Pivotal) is another who could theoretically take on the

pacesetting role, but since she's stepping way up in distance for the first

time, she may not try to go wire-to-wire. Owned by Michael Tabor and trained by

Simon Callaghan, the four-year-old has compiled a three-race winning streak at

around a mile, capped by a hard-fought decision in the Redondo Beach S. Turning

Top has shown a fine late kick in each of her victories, and if she copes with

the added quarter-mile, she'll be tough to fend off.

RESTLESS SOUL (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) is a bona fide long-distance specialist

who figures to move forward off a well-beaten third in the Santa Barbara.

Freshened since then, the six-year-old will be making her third start of the

season for Ben Cecil. Since her third start of 2009 resulted in a victory in the

Yerba Buena S., Restless Soul could be peaking at the moment and is a must-use

in the exotics.

Recent Golden Gate allowance/optional claiming winner CATSALOT (Momentum) is

facing a class test in this spot, but in her only previous race at the distance,

she turned in a strong runner-up performance in the California Cup Distance H.

last fall. For that reason, we wouldn't be shocked if she sneaked into the

superfecta. Pinch-hitting for Tuscan Evening is her stablemate PRETTY KATHERINE

(Vindication), who comes off an allowance score over the course. The Jerry

Hollendorfer filly hasn't factored in her recent stakes on the main track, and

it's difficult to envision a major improvement on turf. LADY FRANCESCA (GB) (Montjeu

[Ire]) is still eligible for an entry-level allowance, and even if she moves up

at this distance, she's got some way to go to threaten the likes of these.

PRINCESS TAYLOR (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) is a marathoner who is in poor form and

likely needs a lot longer distance to turn things around.