Matriarch J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

Sunday's $500,000 Matriarch S. (G1) has drawn an outstanding field of six

distaffers to traverse a grassy mile at Hollywood Park. LADY OF VENICE (Fr)

(Loup Solitaire) scored her biggest career victory at this course and distance

in the CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G2) in July, and we'll tab the

turbo-charged chestnut to earn her first Grade 1 tally here in her initial start

for Kiaran McLaughlin. The four-year-old boasts a superb late kick, which has

carried her to victories in the 2006 Regret S. (G3) and the Ouija Board H. (G3)

earlier this season. Two back, Lady of Venice rallied for a creditable third in

the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D. S. (G1) at a distance longer than her best, and she

is coming off an uncharacteristically dull fourth in the First Lady S. (G2) for

former trainer Patrick Biancone. She has been training sharply in advance of

this target, however, and we envision a return to her sparkling best beneath

regular rider Julien Leparoux.

Champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) is also one-for-one at Hollywood, with a

4 1/2-length score in last year's American Oaks Invitational (G1) on her resume.

The Todd Pletcher pupil hasn't demonstrated the same sort of dominance this

season, but she looked like her old self when storming to victory in the

Ballston Spa H. (G2) two back at Saratoga. The gray wasn't able to repeat that

performance next time out in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1), checking in

third, and scratched from the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) because of

the soft conditions at Monmouth. Although we're not convinced that a mile is her

optimal trip, as it is for Lady of Venice, we won't be surprised if Wait a While

rebounds with Garrett Gomez.

PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) has been remarkably consistent all year, capturing

such major events as the John C. Mabee H. (G1) and Palomar H. (G2) and finishing

second in the aforementioned CashCall Mile and three other graded contests. The

Bobby Frankel filly was wiped out in the Filly & Mare Turf, carried out

impossibly wide by a bolting rival, and never got the chance to run her race.

The half-sister to champion Kitten's Joy will be forwardly placed by Rafael

Bejarano, and she promises to turn in her typically determined effort.

NAISSANCE ROYALE (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) is exiting a smashing 3 1/4-length

tally in the Las Palmas H. (G2) for Christophe Clement. The chestnut mare would

be a serious threat if she duplicates that performance, but we're not thrilled

by the fact that she returns after a mere three weeks against an incomparably

deeper group. DANCE AWAY CAPOTE (Capote) looked like a world-beater when rolling

by 4 1/2-lengths in the Noble Damsel H. (G3) at Belmont Park. The Barclay Tagg

mare wound an even third in the Athenia H. (G3) next time out, perhaps not

really finding traction on the yielding turf, and is eligible to show more on

firm ground here. On the other hand, the five-year-old has never faced a field

of this quality on the turf.

LIVE LIFE (Fr) (Linamix), the probable pacesetter, retreated to fourth in the

Las Palmas and would do well to retain that spot here.