Madison

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

VENTURA (Chester House) will defend her title in Thursday's $300,000 Madison

S. (G1), which was elevated to Grade 1 status in 2009, and only six rivals will

oppose the outstanding five-year-old mare in the seven-furlong Keeneland event. Trained by

Bobby Frankel, Ventura opened this season with a one-length score in the

seven-furlong Santa Monica H. (G1) over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride, and she exits a

runner-up finish, beaten only a nose, in the grassy Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1)

versus males. The regally bred dark bay lays over the field in terms of BRIS

Speed and Class numbers, and she likes the Polytrack at Keeneland. We won't go

against her with Garrett Gomez.

INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) is two-for-two at Keeneland, winning both times

in commendable fashion. The gray four-year-old filly captured an

allowance/optional claiming event by 6 1/4 lengths last April and returned in

the fall to post a convincing 4 1/4-length score in the seven-furlong Raven Run

S. (G2), garnering a career-best 103 BRIS Speed rating. She hasn't been seen

under silks since then, but Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard can get his

runners ready to go off the layoff. Informed Decision appears to be training

forwardly for her return, and she looks second-best to us in what should be a

very short exacta.

AUTHENICAT (D'wildcat) will make her four-year-old debut for Josie

Carroll, and the chestnut can contend for part with her best. She turned in

several respectable performance over the Polytrack at Woodbine last season,

recording a couple of stakes wins, and finished second when making her lone U.S.

start in a Grade 3 event at Churchill Downs in October 2007. The

four-year-old filly owns good natural speed and should be forwardly placed in

her first start back off the layoff. We'll use her on the bottom of the

trifecta.

BSHARPSONATA (Pulpit) displayed plenty of promise at three last season,

finishing a good second over the track in the Ashland S. (G1), but she hasn't

moved forward since being switched to Todd Pletcher three starts back. The

Florida-bred could improve while returning to Keeneland on Thursday, but we're

inclined to just watch and see how she performs.

BEAR NOW (Tiznow) has recorded a couple of runner-up finishes since being

transferred to Al Stall over the winter, but we can't recommend her chances at

seven furlongs here. DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai) exits a sharp

allowance/optional claiming win at Fair Grounds, but she probably needs an

easier spot to be competitive. PROUD HEIRESS (Broken Vow) is more of a

six-furlong specialist and has serious class concerns in this spot.