Dawn After Dawn, Mini Sermon highlight Madison

Dawn After Dawn was a close third in last year's Ashland at Keeneland (Benoit Photo)

Grade 2 winners DAWN AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal) and MINI SERMON (Pulpit)

are the top draws in Wednesday's $200,000 Madison S. (G2) at Keeneland. Dawn

After Dawn has invaded from Southern California for John Sadler after winning

the La Canada S. (G2) two starts back and placing second in the Santa Margarita

Invitational H. (G1) most recently. A fast-closing third in the Ashland S. (G1) 12 months ago

in her only previous appearance at Keeneland, the four-year-old filly will be

reunited with Robby Albarado, who guided her to a fourth in last year's Kentucky

Oaks (G1). Dawn After Dawn is the 123-pound co-top weight.

Mini Sermon, who will also carry 123 pounds, concluded her 2007 campaign with

a victory in the Top Flight H. (G2) at Aqueduct and has been freshened by

trainer Todd Pletcher off a third-place effort in the Sabin H. (G3) at

Gulfstream Park on January 6. Third over Keeneland's Polytrack last fall in the

Raven Run S. (G2), the gray lass will be ridden again by John Velazquez.

Eleven distaffers will contest the seven-furlong Madison. WILD GAMS (Forest

Wildcat), a smart 1 1/4-length winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America S.

(G3) at Keeneland last October, merits respect for conditioner Ben Perkins Jr.,

and VENTURA (Chester House) is an intriguing entrant from Bobby Frankel's

stable. An English stakes winner on the all-weather surface at Kempton, Ventura made her U.S. debut a winning one when

capturing an about 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita last time out on

March 6.

Godolphin's unbeaten ZADA BELLE (Indian Charlie), last seen winning a

February 29 allowance/optional claiming event at Santa Anita off a 16-month

hiatus, will make her stakes debut. The Saeed bin Suroor runner is two-for-two

overall. Humana Distaff (G1) third-placer CARRIAGE TRAIL (Giant's Causeway) will

make her second start of the season for Shug McGaughey.

The complete field, in post order, is LOOKY YONDER (Johannesburg), Julien

Leparoux, 117; Wild Gams, Ramon Dominguez, 117; V. I. P. PRINCESS (Thunder

Gulch), Miguel Mena, 117; WINDYINDY (A.P. Indy), Javier Castellano, 117; STREET

SOUNDS (Street Cry [Ire]), Jose Lezcano, 117; Mini Sermon; Ventura, Garrett

Gomez, 117; Dawn After Dawn; Carriage Trail, Edgar Prado, 117; CHANGE UP

(Distorted Humor), Kent Desormeaux, 117; and Zada Belle, Rafael Bejarano, 117.