Lady's Secret

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven brave souls will attempt to break the unbeaten streak of champion

ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) in the $300,000 Lady's Secret S. (G1) at Santa Anita

on Saturday. We struggled with this selection for some time and have decided to

stick with our guns and look for an upset in here.

We've been crazy for COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) for the past two

years, and while the five-year-old has been a shell of herself in 2009, we look

for her to run a huge race in here for Saeed bin Suroor. Second to Zenyatta in

the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) in what we thought was a poorly timed

ride last fall, the multiple Grade 1 queen is an all-weather dynamo who has had

excuses in each of her 2009 losses and should offer excellent value in here.

Richard Migliore will take his first ride atop the classy mare.

Zenyatta could easily run past this field the way she has in each of her

career starts for conditioner John Shirreffs, but we think if she is ever

vulnerable, it is at a distance similar to this. The long-striding, future Hall

of Fame mare loves this oval and has trained well at her Hollywood base leading

into this, so there is no reason to think that she will not run her customary

big race in here. Mike Smith will pilot the five-year-old, who will make one run

from well back.

Grade 1 heroine LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) has reached new heights in 2009,

eclipsing a trio of graded races while finishing a commendable third in the

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) versus males for Shirreffs. The one-run closer has been

working lights-out entering this event and is perfect in three starts over this

Pro-Ride, so we consider her an obvious win contender beneath Garrett Gomez.

ANABAA'S CREATION (Ire) (Anabaa) was a big second in the Clement L. Hirsch H.

(G1) last out and finished closer to Zenyatta than any of her previous foes in

her 12-race career. A superb 2 3/4-length allowance winner in her U.S. debut

over this strip in April, the intriguing bay mare could be any kind and we

wouldn't fault anyone taking a chance with her for Julio Canani. The

ever-consistent LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) has run well going short and long, on

turf and synthetic alike for conditioner Barry Abrams. The talented

four-year-old has very good early speed, something lacking in this field, and

has proven that this distance is well within her scope. We consider the

four-year-old a live exotics contender, especially if she controls through

moderate splits.

BRIECAT (Adcat) had a nice prep win for this and has been a reliable runner

for trainer Vladimir Cerin. Second in the Vanity H. (G1) three back, the

hard-trying filly should get a good trip just off the pace, but she's in against

some beasts and can't be recommended. SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled's Song) was

second at big odds in the Arlington Oaks (G3) earlier in this campaign, but

she's in deep against these. MADE FOR MAGIC (Cape Canaveral) bagged a stakes win

at Fairplex last out, three races after being claimed by A. C. Avila, but

claimers can't beat the top three in here.