Matchmaker J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

With Rutherienne (Pulpit) opting for Saturday's Diana S. (G1), eight

distaffers are set for Sunday's $200,000 Matchmaker S. (G3) at Monmouth Park.

CAPTAIN'S LOVER (SAf) (Captain Al) will be on or very close to the pace from the

start, and she rates a slight edge in the 1 1/8-mile turf affair.

A Group 1 winner in South Africa, Captain's Lover was beaten four lengths in

fifth when making her U.S. debut in the Just a Game S. (G1) two starts back and

exits a decent third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth.

The five-year-old mare is eligible to keep improving in her third start

stateside for Todd Pletcher, and she'll offer more value than likely favorite

ARIEGE (Doneraile Court), who is stuck in the far outside post. Captain's Lover

looks well spotted for her first U.S. graded win.

Ariege will be no surprise in the winner's circle. A Grade 1 winner

last season, the dark bay opened her four-year-old season with an allowance

score at Keeneland, but she didn't turn in her best effort as the favorite in

the Eatontown H. (G3), pulling early and eventually finishing fourth. She'll get

a new rider in Kent Desormeaux, and the Bobby Frankel trainee figures to be a

dangerous stalking presence throughout.

PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) steps up in class in good form, recording a

pair of wins and three seconds in her last five starts, and she could offer

value in the exotics (10-1 morning line). Trained by Michael Matz, the bay lass

rolled to a 3 1/4-length allowance win when making her Monmouth turf debut last

time, registering a 100 BRIS Late Pace rating, and she'll be able to save ground

from her rail post with jockey Pascacio Lopez.

AMERICAN BORDER (Boundary), who was claimed for $30,000 last summer, rallied

to a head decision in the Miss Liberty and likes the course, compiling a 6-3-0-2

local mark. She appears to be doing well presently for Jason Servis and deserves

serious consideration for the top three. CLOSEOUT (Repriced) is another top

three contender, especially if the turf is anything less than firm. A

three-length scorer in the Locust Grove H. (G3) over yielding ground last time,

the Tom Proctor filly captured the Pucker Up S. (G3) on soft turf last fall. She may

not be as good on firm turf, but the four-year-old filly will be making her

third start off the layoff on Sunday and figures to sit a good stalking trip

under Robby Albarado.

SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer) is a solid late runner, posting triple-digit BRIS

Late Pace ratings in her last four starts, but she's unplaced in three previous

attempts at nine furlongs and hasn't looked sharp in her two most recent starts.

MEADOW SAFFRON (Military) figures to show the way from post 2 off her front-running

stakes score at Indiana Downs, but the Fred Seitz trainee will have to stretch

out an extra eighth of a mile. Her form is improving, with two commendable

efforts following a freshening, but we have our doubts at the distance. THEM

THERE EYES (Holy Bull) probably needs an easier spot to be effective.