Mint Julep

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

DANZON (Royal Academy) returns to the distaff turf ranks in Saturday's

$150,000 Mint Julep H. (G3) after turning in a superb third-place showing,

beaten only a length, against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at

Churchill Downs. The four-year-old miss didn't enjoy the cleanest trip that

afternoon, but she finished in front of Better Talk Now (Talkin Man), who

captured the Manhattan H. (G1) next out.

A Group 3 winner in France, Danzon made her U.S. bow for Patrick Biancone in

the Matriarch S. (G1) in late November at Hollywood Park. She got some time off

following that unplaced effort and opened 2007 with an allowance victory at

Keeneland. Danzon earned an excellent 106 BRIS Speed figure as well as a 107

BRIS Late Pace number

for her effort in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, and she drops into an

easier spot on the Stephen Foster H. (G1) undercard. We're not oblivious to the

possibility of regression off such a monster effort, but we'll still tab Danzon

for the win.

MAGNIFICENT SONG (Unbridled's Song) may not have cared for the yielding turf

last time in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G3). She's eligible to show more for Todd

Pletcher in her second start this year, and Magnificent Song displayed plenty of

class last season when capturing the Garden City Breeders' Cup S. (G1) and Lake

George S. (G3). The gray filly also won the Edgewood S. at Churchill.

Magnificent Song has worked well under the Twin Spires since her last outing,

including a recent bullet move, and she looks very capable of filling a chalky

exacta.

AUNT HENNY (Hennessy) is capable of better than she showed when fifth in the

Gallorette H. (G3) at Pimlico last time. A two-time stakes winner, she finished

a commendable second to Grade 1 winner Vacare (Lear Fan) in the Magna Distaff S.

two starts back, and trainer Michael Matz will switch riders to Ramon Dominguez

(they've combined to win 31 percent of their starts in the last 60 days). Aunt

Henny was a very honest performer in 2006 (4-3-1-0 mark), and she's capable of

grabbing part on Saturday.

QUITE A BRIDE (Stormy Atlantic) just missed in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and will

make her third start off the layoff here for Bill Mott. The Grade 3-winning lass

doesn't need the early lead, but she does her best running on the front end.

With her excellent record at the distance (7-5-0-2), we wouldn't be surprised to

see Quite a Bride factor into the top three.

RICH IN SPIRIT (Repriced) has run well over Churchill's turf before, winning

the Locust Grove H. (G3) and finishing second in the Mint Julep last season, but

she exits a disappointing showing versus local allowance rivals. She'll need to

improve significantly off that effort to challenge for part. RICH FANTASY

(Richter Scale) could show speed for Ronny Werner, but the gray filly faces a

difficult task. She won't get an easy lead with Quite a Bride in the line-up,

and it's difficult to envision her making a serious impact against these rivals.

DELICATE DYNAMITE (Old Trieste) probably needs an easier spot to be competitive.