Long Island

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

ROYAL HIGHNESS (Ger) (Monsun) and BARANCELLA (Fr) (Acatenango) are the top

draws in Sunday's $150,000 Long Island H. (G3), which was rescheduled from last

Saturday when racing was canceled at Aqueduct, and we're tabbing the former 1

1/2-mile specialist to visit the winner's circle at the conclusion of this one.

The Christophe Clement-trained Royal Highness boasts a sharp victory in the

Beverly D. S. (G1) in August, a French Group 2 score in 2005, as well as a

smattering of Grade/Group 1 placings, including some versus males. We're

throwing out her most recent effort, a sixth in the Flower Bowl Invitational S.

(G1) on rock-hard ground at Belmont, and believe that she'll run up to her true

ability on Aqueduct's turf after the recent rain. Royal Highness just missed in this

event last year, beaten a half-length by Safari Queen (Arg) (Lode), and will

have to hold off Barancella to get the job done this time. Although she'll be

conceding weight all around as the 122-pound highweight, she's best among these,

and her impost shouldn't be enough to stop her. Javier Castellano picks up the

mount on the deserving favorite.

Barancella appears to be Royal Highness' only real competition. The

six-year-old mare just earned her first stakes victory two back at Belmont,

taking the Fairway Flyer S. by a length, but has been knocking heads with some

tough rivals all year long. She was third behind our top pick and Safari Queen

in The Very One H. (G3) in her 2007 bow, followed by a second behind the latter

mare in the Bewitch S. (G3). The Bobby Frankel charge continued to add to her

status as a Grade 1-placer, finishing third last out in the E.P. Taylor S.

(Can-G1) at Woodbine, and also loves this distance, earning a 106 BRIS Speed

rating in the Bewitch going 12 furlongs. John Velazquez inherits the mount from Castellano.

Clement could begin and end the trifecta courtesy of GREEN GIRL (Fr) (Lord of

Men), who will be making her first start in his care. A listed winner in France

two years ago, the five-year-old bay has been unplaced in her two North American

outings, including a sixth to English Channel in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Invitational S. (G1) last time out. It goes without saying that she's taking a

substantial class drop here, and will be adding first-time Lasix. Alan Garcia

will be back aboard the closer.

English shipper DALVINA (GB) (Grand Lodge) will also receive Lasix for her

American debut. The Ed Dunlop-trained chestnut romped by six lengths in the 1

1/4-mile Pretty Polly S. in her sophomore debut, leading some observers to hail

her as the next Ouija Board (GB). That hyperbole proved to be baseless, however,

as Dalvina struggled home 11th in the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), and hasn't won since.

She hinted that she may be rounding back into form when a creditable third in

the Blandford S. (Ire-G2) in her latest venture, but that was again at 1 1/4

miles, and her record so far suggests that she has stamina limitations at this

trip. Still, Dalvina may find 12 furlongs much easier to navigate on an American

oval, and her connections warrant respect. Cornelio Velasquez will likely carve

out a stalking trip.

MIRACLE MOMENT (Chester House) looms as the controlling speed for Barclay

Tagg. The four-year-old bay has been overhauled in her prior stakes attempts,

but she hung tough to salvage third in the Chelsey Flower S. Eibar Coa will try

to engineer a front-running upset.

MY RACHEL (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) hasn't been one of Todd Pletcher's leading

lights, checking in fourth in her last three starts, all against stakes company.

We don't envision the step-up in trip helping her that much, but she has lured

Edgar Prado into the saddle. RISING CROSS (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) had solid form

as a three-year-old in 2006, but the Gary Tanaka colorbearer hasn't come close

to that level in seven outings in Europe this season. She'll be getting Lasix

for the first time since competing in last year's Beverly D., but unless that

addition sparks a massive turnaround, the John Best trainee looks up against it.

Rising Cross will be coupled in the wagering with Barancella.

MARY LOUHANA (GB) (Loup Solitaire) is still a maiden after 17 races.