Noble Damsel J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The $100,000 Noble Damsel H. (G3) figures to get lost in the shuffle at

Belmont Park on Saturday with the Gazelle S. (G1), Futurity S. (G2) and Matron

S. (G2), but the one-mile turf affair is appealing to us. A competitive field of

10 (excluding the main-track only runner, Grade 1 queen SUGAR SHAKE [Awesome

Again]) will square off over the Widener Turf, and we'll give top billing to POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer).

Her outside post (10) is a concern, but the five-year-old mare should be able

to overcome it. Pommes Frites is in good form for Bill Mott, finishing a

respectable fourth against tougher company in the Ballston Spa H. (G2) last out,

and loves the turf at Belmont.  Last year's Athenia H. (G3) victress also

recorded close runner-up finishes behind Gorella (Fr) in the Just a Game H. (G2)

and Karen's Caper in the 2006 Noble Damsel, and we can envision her

outclassing these rivals. Shaun Bridgmohan will pick up the mount on the

dark bay.

SKY HIGH FLYER (GB) (Anabaa) will be running late for Bobby Frankel in her

second start of the year. The

multiple Irish Group 3 runner-up finished fourth behind My Typhoon (Ire)

(Giant's Causeway) when making her U.S. stakes debut last summer, and she's

turned in three encouraging efforts since then, posting excellent BRIS Late Pace

numbers in her last four starts. There's some speed in the field, and Sky High

Flyer is a threat to run past all her rivals in the stretch.

ASTRONOMIA (NZ) (King's Best) looked good winning her U.S. bow for Godolphin,

capturing a 5 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claiming event at Saratoga going

away, and the Saeed bin Suroor charge looms as a top contender here. The

Australian import appears to be training well since her last outing, and she

figures to easily handle the added ground.

AMANSARA (War Chant) exits a couple of solid showings at Saratoga for George

Weaver and could make her presence felt late in this spot. The four-year-old

miss is very honest (9-3-3-2), but she doesn't own much graded experience.

Amansara remains a top three threat.

SILVER CHARADES (Broad Brush) will be tested for class in her first start for

John Kimmel, but we liked her victory in the All Along Breeders' Cup S. (G3) two

starts back. The five-year-old mare has registered century-topping Late Pace

ratings in her last three outings, and she's eligible to keep improving.

Consider for the bottom of the exotics. FANTASTIC SHIRL (Fantastic Light)

rallied strongly to win the De La Rose S. last time at Saratoga, and the Kiaran

McLaughlin-trained chestnut is another one to consider for the gimmicks on

Saturday. We're willing to play against, but she does like the distance

(three-for-five).

DANCE AWAY CAPOTE (Capote) owns a nice late kick, but she faces a class check

at this level. We'll let the Barclay Tagg trainee beat us from her outside post. 

SWAP FLIPAROO (Exchange Rate), winner of the 2006 Test S. (G1), will make her

third turf attempt and ran poorly over the weeds two starts back in the Hush

Dear S. at Saratoga. We respect Allen Jerkens and wouldn't be shocked to see a

radical turnaround, but the chances aren't good.

RAHYS' APPEAL (Rahy) was certainly doing very well earlier this year for

conditioner Tom Bush, winning the Top Flight H. (G2) and placing in the Santa

Maria H. (G1) and San Gorgonio H. (G2), but we have to question whether she's

sharp enough presently to challenge here. BAYOU'S LASSIE (Outflanker) could add

to the pace, but we'll give her a race in her first start for Christophe

Clement.

If the Noble Damsel is transferred to the main track, the Frankel-trained

Sugar Shake would loom as a major threat.