Matriarch

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $300,000 Matriarch S. (G1) at Hollywood Park features a clash

between VENTURA (Chester House) and DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]),

one we had hoped to see in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) earlier this month.

Unfortunately, neither of the leading turf female milers on the continent wound

up in that spot and both suffered losses when trying other races during that

two-day fixture at Santa Anita. We're probably in the minority, but we'll side

with Diamondrella in this clash of titans.

As far as BRIS Late Pace ratings achieved on turf are concerned, Diamondrella

is certainly in the same ballpark as Ventura, registering a 103 and 109 in

winning the Just a Game S. (G1) and First Lady S. (G1) earlier this year. Though

both came over rain-softened ground, the five-year-old is more than capable on dry ground as well and

should offer a slightly better price than Ventura. If not for being misplaced in

spots like the Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3) on Tapeta and the Breeders'

Cup Turf Sprint, Diamondrella could be capping off an incredible season in this

race.

Ventura, a gem of consistency, will be strongly favored based on her form

versus males this season. She defeated them in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) two

back with a devastating turn of foot, and earlier in the year was nipped by

probable champion Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H.

(G1). The rest of her campaign occurred on synthetic, where she proved a cut

below Informed Decision (Monarchos). She'll be hard to deny in this spot.

TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) is three-for-three on the Hollywood

turf, but that streak probably ends here as we don't think she has the necessary

class to defeat either or both of the top picks. She's a terrific performer in

her own right with scores in the Las Palmas H. (G2) and Royal Heroine Mile (G2)

this term. She may try to set a soft pace and hope to hold off the late charges

of the two favorites, but we'll bet against her achieving success in that

fashion.

RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) has built up an envious record over the past several

seasons, but has often come up on the short end when wading into the waters of

top-level races. A mile might be her best distance (4-2-0-1), but we still feel

she is a cut below the top pair on ability and Tuscan Evening from the

perspective of fondness for the local sod.

APRIL PRIDE (GB) (Falbrav [Ire]) won the Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (G3) last time,

and takes a huge step up in class as she takes on stakes-quality older rivals

for the first time. She just doesn't match up well on paper. The same can be

said about PUTTANESCA (NZ) (Bertolini), who has trailed home in both U.S.

appearances, and TASTE'S SIS (Marquetry), who is still eligible for a

second-level allowance.