Honey Ryder, Safari Queen clash in Sheepshead Bay

When multiple Grade 1 queen HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) tries to defend

her title in Saturday's $150,000 Sheepshead Bay H. (G2), her most formidable

challenger will probably be her own stablemate, SAFARI QUEEN (Arg) (Lode). The

uncoupled duo from the Todd Pletcher barn towers over the other seven fillies

and mares lining up in the grassy 1 3/8-mile test at Belmont Park.

Honey Ryder will revert to distaff company after tackling males in her first

two outings of the year. The gray just missed by a neck in the Gulfstream Park

Breeders' Cup Turf S. (G1), earning a ticket to Nad al Sheba for the March 31

Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), but she wasn't able to land a blow against some

of the top male turf stars in the world and wound up finishing 11th.

In the Sheepshead Bay, Honey Ryder will tote the top weight of 123 pounds as

she makes her first start since Dubai. She boasts an impressive resume against

her own sex. In 2005, her stakes scores included the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) and

Orchid H. (G2). Last year, in addition to taking her second Orchid H. (G3) as

well as the Sheepshead Bay, she captured the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1)

and wrapped up her season with a good third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare

Turf (G1). Garrett Gomez will guide the gray as she breaks, with blinkers off,

from post 5.

While Honey Ryder has been chasing other targets, Safari Queen has stepped up

into the breach, winning four of her last five starts. Since stretching out to 1

1/2 miles, the Argentine champion has landed the Long Island H. (G2), La

Prevoyante H. (G2), Orchid and most recently the Bewitch S. (G3). Her lone loss

during this span came when second in The Very One H. (G3) at this 11-furlong

trip. John Velazquez, who has been the regular rider for both of Pletcher's

mares, opted to stick with Safari Queen here.

Among those seeking to wreck the Pletcher exacta are multiple Grade 1-placed

BARANCELLA (Fr) (Acatenango), runner-up in the Bewitch last time out; LA DOLCE

VITA (Quiet American), who bounced back from her third in the Orchid to take the

Hollywood Wildcat Breeders' Cup H.; and FACTUAL CONTENDER (Thunder Puddles),

exiting a front-running tally over the inner turf in the Destiny Dance S.

German stakes queen CLIFFROSE (Ger) (Monsun) will lead the post parade

beneath a 114-pound impost that includes Cornelio Velasquez. Next will come La

Dolce Vita, Edgar Prado, 115; MOON DOLLY (GB) (Kris S.), Alan Garcia, 113;

HOSTESS (Chester House), Channing Hill, 113; Honey Ryder; Factual Contender,

Eibar Coa, 115; Safari Queen, 119; Barancella, Javier Castellano, 117; and WAIT

IT OUT (Swain [Ire]), Jean-Luc Samyn, 113.