John C. Mabee J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Saturday's $400,000 John C. Mabee H. (G1) features a good group of six turf

distaffers, and we'll give top billing to CashCall Mile S. (G2) runner-up

PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus). Trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, the dark bay

filly enjoyed a fine sophomore season, winning the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) and

Martha Washington S., but she's improved at four, finishing second by a neck to

My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) prior to a course

record-setting victory in the Gallorette H. (G3) two starts back.

Precious Kitten looked strong turning for home with the lead in the CashCall

and did well to hold runner-up honors under Rafael Bejarano, who will return to

the saddle. Unexpectedly, she wound up on the early lead, but Precious Kitten

likely will revert to more favorable rating tactics here. She earned a 119 BRIS

Late Pace rating in the Jenny Wiley, and the CashCall snapped a string of five

straight triple-digit Late Pace efforts. The Mabee sets up better, with front

runner DANCING EDIE (Moscow Ballet) drawn to her inside, and Precious Kitten

should be poised to strike from just off the pace.

PRICE TAG (GB) (Dansili [GB]) missed second by only a head in the CashCall

and is a serious threat stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in the Mabee. The

uncoupled Frankel runner earned her best BRIS Speed rating (105) stateside in

her lone appearance at nine furlongs, a fast-closing second in the Gamely S.

(G1) two starts back, and the four-year-old lass proved her class when rallying

from far off the pace to win the Matriarch S. (G1) last November. The late

runner could leave herself with too much to do in this short field, but Price Tag

remains a threat to blow past her rivals.

TAKE THE RIBBON (Chester House) captured the Distaff Turf Mile S. (G3) at

Churchill Downs two starts back and finished a fine second in last year's Del

Mar Oaks (G1) for Wally Dollase. Two of her best efforts have come over courses

with some give to them, but we still have a lot of respect for the promising

filly. The four-year-old's BRIS numbers are strong, and Take the Ribbon has been

knocking heads with top-class rivals. We wouldn't be surprised to see her keep

getting better and finally break through with a win at this level.

Dancing Edie likes Del Mar's turf, recording her biggest

career score in the 2006 Mabee, and she'll be showing the way from the start

under Corey Nakatani this year. The Craig Dollase pupil didn't make her

five-year-old bow until June and hasn't been particularly sharp in either of her

return efforts. Dancing Edie is eligible to turn things around at Del Mar and

must be considered for the bottom of the exotics, but we can't get excited about

her win chances.

ANDREA (NZ) (Danasinga) is an intriguing prospect for conditioner Roger

Stein. A solid performer in New Zealand, she captured her first U.S. start over

entry-level opponents and then finished second in the Beverly Hills H. (G2) last

out. Class remains a concern for the six-year-old, but Andrea has obviously

adapted to U.S. racing and remains a candidate to keep improving. MEMORETTE

(Memo [Chi]) exits a dull sixth in the Milady Breeders' Cup H. (G2) over the Cushion Track at Hollywood and will

enter this event winless from her last eight attempts. The Bill Currin-trained

mare has been a hard knocker throughout her career, but Memorette doesn't look

sharp enough presently to challenge here.