Cardinal

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight turf distaffers will travel nine furlongs over the Churchill Downs turf

course in the $150,000 Cardinal H. (G3) on Saturday. The streaking CRIMINOLOGIST

(Maria's Mon) has reeled off three consecutive scores for trainer Shug McGaughey,

and we'll tab the talented filly for her fourth straight on this occasion. The

four-year-old gray has reached new heights as of late, taking the Perfect Sting

S. prior to a 4 1/2-length romp in the Athenia H. (G3) in her latest outing. The

Kentucky-bred is nearly untouchable on a surface with moisture in it, and with

the wet conditions in Louisville in the past week, we can't see any way to hold

her off under John Velazquez.

ARGENTINA (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) has faced Grade 1 company in five straight

outings for Bobby Frankel, including an unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup

Filly & Mare Turf (G1) last out. The five-year-old bay is set to make her swan

song in this race, and it would be a nice way to go out with a win in here.

Incredibly, the five-year-old has just two career wins while close many times,

so we prefer her in the second slot. Julien Leparoux has the call.

NOTTAWASAGA (Deputy Minister) is more than capable on her best day and should

not be dismissed at big odds for conditioner Eric Coatrieux. The well-bred

four-year-old was third in the River Memories S. in her most recent start, which

should serve as a perfect prep for this, and we expect the chestnut to battle

for a top three spot beneath Kent Desormeaux.

JADE QUEEN (Giant's Causeway) is consistent if nothing else and is another

who should be in the mix turning for home. The Grade 1-placed chestnut hasn't

visited the winner's circle in seven consecutive outings, including three as a

short-priced favorite for Todd Pletcher. The four-year-old will be the one to

catch at the head of the stretch, but her affinity to settle for minor awards

keeps her on the lower rungs of the exotics. Shaun Bridgmohan has the

assignment.

The well-bred BICOASTAL (Gone West) was a smart allowance winner in her U.S.

debut last out and jumps up a few levels in class for Andrew McKeever. The Group

3-placed sophomore topped a useful field last out but will need marked

improvement to factor in here. We like the chestnut as a long-term project, but

this spot seems too much at this stage of her career.

CANDY BALL (Lemon Drop Kid) captured an allowance prep for this and transfers

to the high-percentage barn of Bret Calhoun for this encounter, but she looks

like a bit player with these. The five-year-old sports a nifty 9-5-2-1 turf

mark, but has never faced a field of this quality. LOVE HANDLES (Sahm)

has been first or second in six straight tries, five of which were on the sod,

but she too steps up big time in class. The Illinois-bred could complete the

superfecta with her best.

MAMA I'M HOME (Wheaton) has lost her last pair of graded stakes encounters by

a combined 28 1/4 lengths and looks unlikely in this one.