Beverly Hills J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) will be seeking a repeat victory, and

her first since August, in Sunday's $150,000 Beverly Hills H. (G2) over 10

grassy furlongs at Hollywood Park. The six-year-old is the class of the field,

but we question whether her late-closing style will be conducive in a race where

there isn't a lot of pace. She's also never been much of a win machine since her

importation, so we'll take a stand against her in this spot.

The most logical upsetter is TOQUE DE QUEDA (GB) (Dansili [GB]). Though she

also has issues in regards to reaching the winner's circle on a consistent

basis, she hasn't finished far behind Black Mamba in their last two meetings.

She figures to rate much closer to the pace, and has proven her relative class

with solid third-place efforts in the Beverly D. S. (G1) and Santa Barbara H.

(G2).

We'll put Black Mamba second. She won't be forced to rally out in the middle

of the course as was the case last time in the Gamely S. (G1), but we still

don't like potential pace scenario. On the plus side, Garrett Gomez returns to

the saddle and he was aboard for her two victories last year, which also included

the John C. Mabee H. (G1).

CHARMING LEGACY (Ire) (Danehill) seems to have just enough class to outfinish

the rest. She was the bronze medalist in Tuzla H. (G3), Wilshire H. (G3) and

Redondo Beach S. this season. She is also one of the more likely candidates to

go for the early lead, and she has stretched her speed as far as nine furlongs

in the past.

RESTLESS SOUL (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) has proven she can run all day, having

finished second in the 12-furlong La Zanzara H. and winning the 1 3/8-mile Yerba

Buena S. in her latest start on April 4. She overcame a similar layoff to win a

10-furlong allowance back in January, and is hitting her best stride at the

late-blooming age of five. YOU LIFT ME UP (Lord Carson) was second to Restless

Soul in the Yerba Buena two back, then was a modest fourth in a stakes

restricted to California-breds last time. Others offer more appeal from a class

perspective. Though a consistent check-getter, HOT N' DUSTY (Unusual Heat) is

still eligible for a second-level allowance, so is not the kind you would expect

to reach the winner's circle in a race like this.