Gallant Bloom J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

SARA LOUISE (Malibu Moon) just missed by a head when second in last year's

Gallant Bloom H. (G2) and will use this year's $150,000 edition as her first

start of 2010. While the talented miss has shown the ability to win off an

extended layoff in the past, she wasn't facing the likes of RAPPORT

(Songandaprayer). We're siding with the latter filly to make it two in a row in

Saturday's 6 1/2-furlong test at Belmont Park.

Rapport didn't break her maiden until this year, scoring by 5 1/4 lengths

over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track for new conditioner Bob Baffert. She stayed

on that surface to take an allowance by 4 3/4 lengths, then was given a shot on

a conventional dirt track when making her stakes bow in the Azalea S. (G3) at

Calder on July 10. The sophomore set the pace in that six-furlong event, fading

at the end to finish fourth, but utilized her speed much more efficiently last

out in the Victory Ride S. (G3) at Saratoga. Rapport wired that race beneath

Martin Garcia, earning a field-best 107 BRIS Speed rating as well as a 113 BRIS

E2 Pace figure, and Garcia retains the mount for the Gallant Bloom. The pair

could find themselves in the winner's circle once again.

Sara Louise ran four times as a juvenile and four times as a sophomore, and

in each case started her campaign in the fall of the year. She captured the

Pocahontas S. (G3) and finished second in the Golden Rod S. (G2) as a

two-year-old, then was purchased by Godolphin Stable and transferred from Dale

Romans to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. The bay lass wasn't seen in competition for

nine months, but when she did return last year the filly added the Victory Ride

S. (G3) to her line. Sara Louise used last year's Gallant Bloom as a final prep

for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), where she ran fourth, and

concluded her sophomore season on November 27 with a half-length victory in the

Top Flight H. (G2). This isn't the toughest spot in which to return, but the

four-year-old lass won't find it to be a walk over either. Edgar Prado has the

call.

QUALIA's (Saarland) last race in the Ballerina S. (G1) is a complete throw

out after her saddle slipped and she bore out badly. Prior to that, the Robert

Ribaudo charge established her place in the sprint ranks with a trio of

allowance/optional claiming wins. She made her stakes debut in the Bed o' Roses

H. (G3) at Belmont in early July, just missing by a head, then was given a shot

at the Ballerina. The four-year-old filly has earned competitive numbers,

including 103 Speed and 106 E2 Pace figures for her Bed o' Roses run, and has a

chance at breaking through with a first black-type score here. Regular rider

Rajiv Maragh will be in the saddle.

MY JEN (Fusaichi Pegasus) went undefeated in her initial three career starts

but suffered her first loss when making her three-year-old bow in the January 9

Old Hat S. (G3). The Eddie Kenneally-conditioned gray endured a bumpy start in

that event, and returned nearly eight months later to be second in the Victory

Ride. She could be rounding back into form just in time and will have

the added edge of Julien Leparoux in the pilot's seat. My Jen will be tough to

keep out of the top three.

FIRST PASSAGE (Giant's Causeway) hasn't known the same success this season as

she had in 2009. The Marty Wolfson trainee scored in the Azalea and just missed

by 1 3/4 lengths when fourth in the Test S. (G1) as a sophomore, but so far this

year her only win came in the U Can Do It H. at Calder in mid-June. Her three

graded tries this year have resulted in off-the-board efforts, and she'll have

to find some of that three-year-old form to offer any kind of challenge here.

DEVIL BY DESIGN (Medaglia d'Oro) suffered a troubled trip in the Ballerina, but

still managed to rally for fourth. The four-year-old may not be able to threaten

for the win, but she could pick up a graded placing with a career-best effort.

PRETTY PROLIFIC's (Lion Heart) two best efforts this season have come over

sloppy, sealed, tracks, but Saturday's forecast calls for clear skies and sunny

conditions in Elmont, New York. We can't recommend. LOVELY LIL (Tiznow) posted

her first loss when fourth in the Test two back but rebounded a bit to just miss

by a neck against allowance rivals last out. She looks out of her class against

these at this time. MOONTUNE MISSY (Forest Wildcat) has shown a definite

preference for conventional dirt surfaces over all-weather tracks, but doesn't

appear fast enough to challenge here.