Gallant Bloom

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A fantastic field of seven will vie in Saturday's $150,000 Gallant Bloom H.

(G2) at Belmont Park. Champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) dominated this

field by 6 1/4 lengths in 2008 and will likely be the deserving favorite in this

field, but we'll take a chance elsewhere.

THUNDER'S DOVE (Thunderello) has rolled to five consecutive daylight wins in

succession for trainer Nick Zito, three of which came in stakes affairs, and we

think she has what it takes to pull off the upset. The peaking chestnut won by

8 1/4 lengths in her last appearance over this oval, earning a career best 103

BRIS Speed figure in the process, and is coming into this race in fine fashion.

To our memory, we have not seen a horse work a half-mile in :46 over the

Oklahoma training oval at Saratoga, so if she can run to that she'll be a major

force. Rajiv Maragh has the call.

We adore dual champion Indian Blessing and rate her as one of the top fillies we have seen over the past 10 years. The classy Bob Baffert trainee has finished

first or second in all but one of her 15 career starts and exits a useful second

in the Ballerina S. (G1), a race that she probably needed. The dark bay could

easily run this field into the ground beneath John Velazquez, but she'll be an

underlay with a three-race losing streak in tow.

Two-time Grade 3 queen SARA LOUISE (Malibu Moon) made a stylish return to the

races with a two-length victory in the Victory Ride S. (G3) on Travers Day for

Saeed bin Suroor. Known by many as the last horse to beat living-legend Rachel

Alexandra (Medaglia d' Oro), the sophomore broke her maiden on this oval at two

and drilled a bullet four panels leading into this. We question the field she beat last out and fear

the possibility of a slight regression in her second start off

the lengthy break, so we'll try to beat her for the win.

P. S. U. GRAD (Harlan's Holiday) was a distant fourth in the high-quality

Ballerina last out and gives Baffert some insurance in this dash. The dark bay

is well-drawn in the widest post and should get a hot pace up front, so we'll

include her in vertical exotics. Multiple Grade 2 star ANY LIMIT (Limit Out) has won four times at Belmont and

is as good as a lot of fillies and mares when she runs her best for Allen

Jerkens. The six-year-old bay can run well fresh and should be involved from

the outset, but her running style could lead to her undoing on this day.

AMERICAN QUEEN (Quiet American) has won four of her last five races and could

save ground from the rail, but we can't see her being in the mix in the latter

stages in her graded debut for Allen Iwinski. Victory Ride fourth SKY HAVEN (Sky

Mesa) has done her best work against Keystone Stated-bred runners, and this

field looks way over her head.