Miesque J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

A mostly unproven field of 12 juvenile fillies will contest Friday's $100,000

Miesque S. (G3), the first graded event of Hollywood Park's Turf Festival, and

the one-mile affair marks the stakes debut of INTERNALLYFLAWLESS (Giant's

Causeway). The Bob Baffert-trained miss stamped herself as a promising turf stakes

performer with her maiden score at Oak Tree on September 28, displaying a

terrific turn of foot to rally into contention off the far turn en route to a

one-length decision, and we'll look for her to keep moving forward in this spot.

She's training well in preparation for this start, and Garrett Gomez retains the

mount. Internallyflawless rates top billing.

HABAYA (Storm Cat) is a logical win candidate based upon her first two career

outings. Out of turf champion Golden Apples (Ire) (Pivotal), the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil

will be making her first start in California after winning her career debut at

Belmont Park and finishing second in the Jessamine S. at Keeneland. The rival

that beat her last time, Laragh (Tapit), recorded a respectable third as the

favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf next out, and Habaya is a

serious threat to earn her first stakes win in this spot. Richard Migliore will

be in to guide the likely favorite.

EMMY DARLING (Graeme Hall) is the lone stakes winner in the field, taking the

Landaluce S. over the Cushion Track this summer, and she was beat only 3 1/2

lengths when fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last time. We

can't dismiss her from win consideration based on her class and experience, but

the John Sadler charge has not crossed the wire in the top three in her last three starts and

won't offer any value here. We'll use her on the bottom of the exotics.

ATKA (Swiss Yodeler) gave a fine account of herself when rallying for a

dead-heat second over the course and distance last time versus

male allowance/optional claiming rivals, and the California-bred merits consideration

for a minor award with another late rally. However, her Speed and Late Pace

numbers are a bit low.

PRETTY KATHERINE (Vindication) owns some turf breeding, but she's never been

two turns or on the grass. There are too many uncertainties for us to back her

with confidence, but she remains an intriguing prospect. KINESIOLOGY

(Dixie Union) broke her maiden on the turf at Del Mar but ran poorly when

stepping up to face stakes rivals in the Oak Leaf (G1) last time. The return to

turf could lend itself to a dramatic turnaround, but we're not too enthused

about her chances.

CENTURY PARK (General Meeting) broke her maiden at Hollywood in her last

start, but she wasn't too impressive and drew a tough post (10) for her stakes

bow. ELOQUENTLY (GB) (Dansili [GB]), who won at first asking by

five lengths over the Polytrack in England last out, will make her U.S. debut

under the care of John Sadler on Friday. She probably didn't face much last time

and shows only one work at Santa Anita in advance of this appearance. Calder

shipper MS. LIVELY

(Mr. Livingston) is marooned in post 12 and hasn't shown much in her last couple

of starts.

PLATINUM STILETTO (Mr. Livingston) didn't appear to beat much when capturing

a maiden claimer over the Cushion Track last time, and we'll give her a

start against winners on the turf. GRACE GRYDER (Decarchy) is probably facing

too much of a class hike. DREAMALONG (Rahy) is still a maiden and hasn't been a

serious threat in any of her four starts.