Noble Damsel J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Grade 1 star RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) leads a field of seven in Saturday's

$100,000 Noble Damsel H. (G3) at Belmont Park. The Christophe Clement trainee

has been a turf standout in her career, winning 10 times and placing on nine

other occasions from 21 lifetime outings, and she is the undoubted class of this

group. The five-year-old is in excellent current form and has been impressive in

defeat in her last pair. It appears that there is enough early speed to set up

the mare's explosive late kick, and jockey Alan Garcia should be able to avoid

trouble from the outside post.

Multiple Grade 3 victress SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer) is a very consistent

performer for conditioner Alan Goldberg, as the mare always fires in the lane.

The bay miss was a solid third over good turf at Belmont against better in the

spring, and if she is ready for her best, she could surely complete the exacta

under Kent Desormeaux.

Eatontown S. (G3) runner-up QUIET MEADOW (El Prado [Ire]) tired after setting

the pace in the Diana S. (G1) in her latest, which followed a quartet of fine

showings. The bay filly has really come into her own at four when transferring

to the green, and we think that she has room for improvement. Javier Castellano

has the call atop the exotics contender.

GRANDE ANNEE (Gone West), a half-sister to standout sophomore Friesan Fire

(A.P. Indy), finished fourth in the competitive De La Rose S. at Saratoga in her

U.S. debut and is the wildcard in this field for Michael Matz. The dark bay ran

off three wins in succession versus lesser at three and could surely move up in

her second start of this campaign, but we fear that she'll be somewhat overbet

and will try to beat her beneath Jose Lezcano. Grade 3 vixen AMERICAN BORDER (Boundary) has won a third of her career turf

starts for Jason Servis and will remove blinkers for this affair. The bay has a

decent turn of foot, but we fear that we've already seen her best and it may not

be good enough.

MEADOW SAFFRON (Military) has good early speed and a cozy rail impost in this

test for Fred Seitz, but we'd be more inclined to use her if this was run on the

inner oval. STEALIN' KISSES (Sky Mesa) has never proven herself against this

type and we'll have to see her do it before siding with her.