Iowa Oaks J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

HIGHTAP (Tapit) enters Friday night's $200,000 Iowa Oaks (G3) off a sharp 3

1/4-length tally in the one-mile Dogwood S. (G3) in which the Steve

Asmussen-trained filly earned a very respectable 95 BRIS Speed rating. A facile

allowance winner three starts back in a two-turn event at Fair Grounds, the gray

lass is bred to easily handle the 1 1/16-mile distance and is three for four

this year. Regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan will be up, and the stalker can make

it two straight wins.

HOOH WHY (Cloud Hopping) must transfer her form to dirt, but she's got

experience on a conventional surface, finishing third in the six-furlong

Sandpiper S. at Tampa Bay in late December. The chestnut is better around two

turns, missing by only a head in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) prior to a

front-running score in the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland, and she exits a sharp

half-length score from off the pace in the La Lorgnette S. at Woodbine. The

third-place finisher last time returned with a top showing against males in

Sunday's Queen's Plate, missing by only a neck in third, and Hooh Why appears to

be dropping in class in this spot. The Donna Dupuy trainee should be close to

the pace from the start under Robby Albarado, and she's obviously dangerous.

SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled's Song) offers the opportunity for a little

value. Listed at 10-1 on the morning line, the Eric Reed pupil has a start over

the Prairie Meadows track, checking in third in the one-mile Panthers S. last

out, and figures to appreciate the added ground and a more solid pace set-up on

Friday. The dark bay owns solid BRIS Speed and Pace numbers, and we'll look for

her to offer a challenge with local jockey Glenn Corbett.

PEACH BREW (Milwaukee Brew) earned a 101 BRIS Late Pace figure last out on

the turf at Arlington, and the dark bay will look to offer a late run on Friday.

She doesn't have much of a winning attitude (zero-for-five this year) and was

unplaced in her last graded effort, but she's been knocking heads against some

tough customers and might find this company more to her liking. Consider for

part.

DON'TTALKTOME (Cactus Ridge) will be on the engine from the start, but the

chestnut miss got away with slow fractions when leading all the way in the

Panthers last time and has always raced at shorter distances. She figures to face

more pressure on Friday, and her pedigree is slanted toward sprints. We respect

the Judith Hicklin runner's current form (three-race winning streak) but will

try to beat her at 8 1/2 furlongs. SWEET RELISH (Smoke Glacken) will try two

turns off a commendable one-length win in the seven-furlong Cinemine S. at Lone

Star that netted her a 96 BRIS Speed rating. The chestnut miss figures to take

back and look to make one run under Cliff Berry, and we can't dismiss her from

exotics consideration on the stretch-out. However, we'll just watch for now.

MONTEREY STREET (Candy Ride [Arg]), who was claimed for $20,000 in February,

shows two solid efforts over the track but will be tested for class in her

graded debut. MEIN FRAULEIN (Saarland) hasn't been much of a factor in her last

two versus allowance rivals and doesn't look fast enough to factor here.