Noble Damsel BC J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Saturday's $150,000 Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup H. (G3) has lured a

competitive field of nine distaffers to do battle over Belmont Park's Widener

turf course. POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) has been a revelation this year as a

four-year-old, and we think that the Bill Mott-trained filly is a deserving 5-2 favorite

in the mile event. The dark bay has captured four of five starts in 2006 in

front-running fashion, her lone loss coming to the divisional leader, Gorella

(Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]), who just gunned her down late in the Just a Game H.

(G2) at this same course and distance. With no Gorella here, Pommes Frites

figures to dictate affairs, kick for home and gamely hold on at the wire. That's

how she won the Beaugay H. (G3) in April and the Dr. James Penny Memorial H.

last time out, opening up an insurmountable lead in the stretch while recording

109 BRIS Late Pace ratings. Jose Santos will once again try to ration out her

lethal speed.

KAREN'S CAPER (War Chant) was two agonizing noses away from being a

Grade/Group 1 heroine last season, outgamed by Maids Causeway in the one-mile

Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and desperately unlucky on the head-bob in the 1 1/8-mile

Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) in her American bow at

Keeneland. After an even fourth in her 2006 debut in a Saratoga allowance, the

Bobby Frankel trainee closed resolutely for second in the 1 1/16-mile Ballston

Spa H. (G2) in her most recent outing, unable to catch the pacesetter, My

Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway). Considering that Karen's Caper was doing all

her best work in the final furlong, we're concerned that she's cutting back in

distance here, and she might suffer a similar trip chasing another classy member

of the Mott platoon who could establish a clear lead. If this race were longer,

we'd make her our top selection, but in view of her record at a mile (5-0-1-0),

we'll have to put her second. Edgar Prado returns to the saddle.

SAFARI QUEEN (Arg) (Lode), in contrast, is a perfect two-for-two at a mile,

including a Group 1 success at the end of her juvenile season in Argentina.

Since taking up residence with Todd Pletcher, the chestnut has been a fairly

reliable performer. In her latest, Safari Queen broke through with her first

North American stakes victory in the restricted Rumpipumpy S. at Saratoga. An

attractive 8-1 on the morning line, she will likely enjoy a close stalking trip

beneath John Velazquez.

Our dark horse is the 12-1 outsider PROP ME UP (Reparations), based with

Kelly Breen at Monmouth Park. The four-year-old made her stakes bow two starts

back in the Matchmaker S. (G3) on her home turf, and she uncorked a ferocious

120 Late Pace figure to finish second, beaten only a half-length by the

accomplished Ready's Gal (More Than Ready). Note that Ready's Gal came right

back to defeat a smart group in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine, so the

form looks rock solid. We're throwing out Prop Me Up's last start, an admirably

close third in the off-the-turf Eatontown H. (G3), because it doesn't shed any

additional light on her ability on the grass. Joe Bravo sticks with Prop Me Up,

who could come charging late for a minor award.

MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) will probably be overbet in her American

premiere for Patrick Biancone. A sharp two-year-old last year, the bay filly has

not built on that early promise this season. After a first-out score in the Prix

Imprudence, Mauralakana ran respectably, though unplaced, in the French One

Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1) and French Oaks (Fr-G1). She managed only third in the

Prix de Psyche (Fr-G3) in her French finale, and Psyche winner Chaibia (Ire) (Peintre

Celebre) didn't exactly boost the form when she wound up fourth in the September

9 Garden City Breeders' Cup S. (G1). While Mauralakana is eligible to improve on

Lasix as she reverts to a mile, she doesn't offer much value at 7-2 in her first

attempt against her elders.

BRIGHT ABUNDANCE (Quiet American) captured the 2005 Noble Damsel, but this is

a tougher field than the one she handled a year ago. The Christophe Clement mare

has posted three straight runner-up efforts in stakes company, and it would be

no surprise if this marvel of consistency fights her way into the frame.

HUMORISTIC (Sefapiano) has been showing speed before tiring in the closing

stages, as she did when third in the Matchmaker. Although she's another

candidate for a minor placing, we think she'll exhaust herself chasing Pommes

Frites. SABELLINA (Langfuhr) finished a terrific second to our top selection in

the Penny Memorial, but she's run three tough races in the interim and has a

poor mark at a mile.

HIS BEAUTY (Adcat) hasn't threatened lesser opponents and looks to be in over

her head.