First Lady

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An outstanding field of eight distaffers will compete over eight grassy

furlongs in Keeneland's opening day co-feature, the $400,000 First Lady S. (G1),

and three confirmed front runners should set the race up for a closer. FOREVER

TOGETHER (Belong to Me) recorded her first turf stakes victory in the one-mile

Reluctant Guest S. earlier this season, rallying from seventh to win going

away, and she offered another strong finish when rallying from 10th and last for third in the

one-mile Just a Game S. (G1) in her next outing.

Forever Together registered a 120 BRIS Late Pace rating for her fast-charging

victory in the Diana S. (G1) two starts back, but she didn't appear to handle

the soggy turf at Woodbine last time when running third in the Canadian S.

(Can-G2). The Jonathan Sheppard-trained filly will cut back to a mile off those

two races, and we believe the pace and distance will be a perfect fit for the

gray lass.

PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) is as classy as they come and will proceed to the

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) with a good showing, but we like her better

on the firm turf courses in California. A three-time Grade 1 winner in the

Golden State, she was passed in the stretch of the 2007 First Lady and lacked a

sufficient rally when checking in fifth in April's Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at

Keeneland. The mare was making her first start off a lengthy layoff in the

latter and likely will be much more fit on Friday for conditioner Bobby Frankel,

but Precious Kitten is also only one-for-five at a mile. There's still a lot to

like, and we'll look for a strong showing from just off the pace.

DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy) ran a big race over Keeneland's sod when second in

last year's Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) 12 months ago,

and we won't be shocked to see everything turn out in her favor here. She's good

at a mile (3-2-1-0) and runs well fresh for the Midwest's premiere trainer,

Wayne Catalano, but we are concerned about the preponderance of speed in the

line-up. Dreaming of Anna is still a threat to outrun the other front runners

and last the entire way, so we'll place her on the bottom of the exotics.

RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) holds some appeal with her finishing kick, recording

Late Pace numbers of 116 and 115 this season, and she captured the 1 1/16-mile

Jenny Wiley with a solid late run. The four-year-old miss has posted four

consecutive third-place finishes since then, and we'd recommend giving her

serious consideration for the top three once again. While Rutherienne has proven

versatile over a variety of distances, we're concerned about her chances at

eight furlongs. She might get involved too late.

ROSHANI (Fantastic Light) exits a Grade 3 score in mid-May and will be tested

for class in this spot. We like her winning attitude (six victories in her last

nine starts) and could see including her on the bottom of some exotics for

value, but she'll need a career best to factor at this level. We'd love to see

ROSINKA (Ire) (Soviet Star) relax just off the speed before offering her best

run, but those tactics didn't work last time in the Beverly D. S. (G1) and she

looks like the type who needs to be given her head from the get-go to be

effective. Those tactics probably won't work in this spot, and we'll go against

the Grade 3 winner if she remains in the field. The mare is cross-entered to

Sunday's Spinster S. (G1).

STORMY WEST (Gone West) ran a big race at Keeneland when second in the Jenny

Wiley, but she didn't improve off that effort and appears unlikely to run back

to it. BAYOU'S LASSIE (Outflanker) will add to the pace with her quickness, but

she'll have a difficult time lasting.