Gardenia J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Seven distaffers will contest Saturday's $150,000 Gardenia H. (G3) at Ellis

Park, and FANCY FUSAICHI (Fusaichi Pegasus) will likely go favored off an 8 3/4-length romp in

the Iowa Distaff S. on June 28. We respect her chances but will take a stand

against her with KATHLEENS REEL (Lemon Drop Kid).

Listed at 10-1 on the morning line, Kathleens Reel will make her first start

for Eddie Kenneally, who wins at a 21 percent clip with new trainees. She didn't

fire when last in the 10-furlong Delaware H. (G2) last time, but a change in

scenery should do the stakes-winning filly good. The four-year-old bay has

placed in both the Fleur de Lis H. (G2) and Sixty Sails H. (G3) this year, and

she owns a 4-2-1-0 mark at a mile. She figures to benefit from the cutback to

eight furlongs, and Kathleens Reel owns some natural speed. She can sit a

favorable, ground-saving trip from the rail before offering her best.

Fancy Fusaichi merits serious respect. She'll enter this event on the upswing

for Bill Mott, winning her stakes debut last time by an eye-popping margin, and

the four-year-old miss clearly favors the one-mile distance. We'd like to see

slightly higher BRIS Speed ratings from the up-and-coming lass, but the bay

remains a major win threat in this spot.

MISS ATLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic) will show speed, but she's probably at her

best sprinting around one turn. The speedy miss came up short after setting an

uncontested pace in the Iowa Distaff last time, but she still managed to finish

a clear second. She's eligible to hold for a small share once again, and we

won't be shocked to see her lead all the way.

MARQUEE DELIVERY (Marquetry) exits an allowance win over the synthetic track

at Presque Isle Downs, but she doesn't look fast enough to challenge for top

honors here. However, we can't count her out of exotics consideration.

UNFORGOTTEN (Northern Afleet) exits an unplaced stakes effort on the grass at

Saratoga. She's got the back class to make her presence felt here, but the

Dallas Stewart pupil is winless in two starts at a mile on the main track. We

question whether she's sharp enough to offer a serious challenge.

WINDYINDY (A.P. Indy) was no factor in her previous two stakes attempts

against better company, and she's still got serious class concerns in this spot.

SWIFT TEMPER (Giant's Causeway) hasn't shown enough in her recent starts for us

to recommend her chances.