Long Island

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

French Group 1 winner LATICE (Ire) (Inchinor [GB]) highlights a field of

seven turf distaffers in Saturday's $150,000 Long Island H. (G2) at Aqueduct. Trainer Jonathan

Sheppard has been extremely patient this season with the four-year-old filly,

running her in a pair of listed events before attempting the E.P. Taylor

(Can-G1), and Latice ran a big race at Woodbine last out, grabbing the lead in

the stretch before falling short by a half-length in second. The chestnut is

currently sharp, returning off a 13-day rest here, and stretches out to a more

favorable 1 1/2-mile distance. She'll be tough to beat in the Long Island.

A LULU OFA MENIFEE (Menifee) finished a good fourth behind E.P. Taylor winner

Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) and Film Maker (Dynaformer) in the Glens Falls H.

(G3) last out and ran second behind Latice in the Waya S. two starts back.

With her fine tactical speed and a lack of early runners in the field, the

Barclay Tagg trainee is a strong candidate to show the way early under John

Velazquez on a very slow pace. A Lulu ofa Menifee is a threat to steal the race

at a decent price if our top choice doesn't fire her best.

SPOTLIGHT (GB) (Dr Fong) upset Latice in a Delaware stakes in

early October and the Grade 2 winner has the class to challenge for the win

here. The Christophe Clement-trained four-year-old has earned century-topping

BRIS Late Pace ratings in her last four attempts and owns a commendable 3-1-1

mark from eight U.S. starts, the last seven versus stakes rivals. She'll be

stalking the pace under Ramon Dominguez and must be respected.

OLAYA (Theatrical [Ire]) makes her U.S. bow for trainer Graham Motion, who

does well with foreign imports, and receives first-time Lasix. A listed stakes

winner at the distance two starts back in France, the sophomore filly gets in

light on Saturday (112 pounds) but hasn't been the most consistent performer so

far in her career, recording three unplaced efforts from her last four starts.

She merits consideration for part under Edgar Prado.

KATE WINSLET (Signal Tap) exits a win over New York-breds in the Yaddo H. at

Saratoga but hasn't had much success against open company. LITTLE BUTTERCUP (Labeeb

[GB]) didn't show much against Spotlight in the Delaware stakes for trainer Todd Pletcher and the New

York-bred mare has never raced over the turf at Aqueduct. We'll just watch to

see how she fares. SERENDIPITOUS (Pleasant Tap) steps up off a victory over

$35,000 claimers and might be overmatched in this spot.