Fair Grounds Oaks

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) features a field of eight

sophomore fillies, and APPEALING ZOPHIE (Successful Appeal) is the one to beat

after opening 2007 with a 4 1/4-length win in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) at

Fair Grounds. The Grade 1 winner broke from an inside post that afternoon and

got away with slow opening splits in :24 3/5 and :48 4/5. On Saturday, she

breaks from post 7 with California shipper MISTICAL PLAN (Game Plan) at the

rail. We'll look for OCTAVE (Unbridled's Song) to be sitting in the garden spot

behind the front runners before advancing.

Winner of the Adirondack Breeders' Cup S. (G2) in August, Octave finished a

close second in the Matron S. (G1) prior to making her two-turn debut in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She didn't experience a clean trip but

still ran well for second, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by eventual champion

Dreaming of Anna (Rahy). Octave has trained steadily at Palm Beach Downs for her

seasonal debut, posting several bullet moves, and the Todd Pletcher pupil will

keep Garrett Gomez in the irons. She also notched a field-best 102 BRIS Speed

rating in her last start. Octave could prove impossible to deny from just off

the pace.

TOTAL (Forest Wildcat) brought a three-race win streak into her graded debut in the Silverbulletday, but she had the unenviable task of having to chase a loose

Appealing Zophie. The improving filly still finished a solid second, and

circumstances should be different in this spot. Total earned a respectable 99

BRIS Speed rating when capturing the Letellier Memorial S. two starts back and

recorded a 100 Late Pace rating last time. Those numbers figure to keep

increasing, and Total could also make her presence felt utilizing

stalk-and-pounce tactics.

Mistical Plan ripped off quick opening splits when sprinting seven furlongs

last year, and she challenged for the lead from the start in the 1 1/16-mile

Santa Ysabel S. (G3) two starts back. The Doug O'Neill shipper will likely break

running from the inside, and we expect her to lead the way with Appealing Zophie in hot pursuit to her outside. The multiple stakes winner has the class

to hang on for part.

GET READY BERTIE (More Than Ready) is probably the most dangerous closer

in the field. A two-length winner of the Tiffany Lass S. two starts back, the

Steve Flint trainee was compromised by the slow pace in the Silverbulletday last

time. The bay miss hasn't earned strong Speed numbers, but she receives a rider

switch to Edgar Prado and is eligible to come running late for a small share.

Appealing Zophie could outperform our expectations, but we still have some

concerns about her ability around two turns and don't like the outside post.

We'll let the classy filly beat us.

WHATDREAMSRMADEOF (Graeme Hall) rolled to a sharp 4 3/4-length allowance score

last out, and the Tom Amoss trainee has been very honest, finishing first or

second in five of six career starts. This will be her first attempt against

graded opponents, and while we respect her chances, we'll give her a race at

this level. LE CHATEAU (Chester House) exits a 10 1/2-length maiden special

weight romp in her first dirt start. We'll give her a race at this level. DAWN

AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal) was no factor in the Silverbulletday and both of

her career wins have come on turf.