Ouija Board Distaff

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

After posting an 11-1 upset 12 months ago, WASTED TEARS (Najran) figures to

defend her title in Monday's $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3) in odds-on fashion. The

five-year-old mare will bring terrific form into the one-mile turf affair,

defeating champion Forever Together (Belong to Me) in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2)

last out, and towers over five rivals from a class standpoint. Owned and trained

by Bart Evans, the dark bay is four-for-four over the Dallas course and

registered a career-best 104 BRIS Speed rating in her last start. She should be

on the lead throughout.

BUBBLER (Distorted Humor), who exits a nice local score in the Irving Distaff

S., has the best chance at an upset. She'll likely be forwardly placed from the

rail with jockey Eddie Martin Jr. and owns a solid finishing kick, registering

BRIS Late Pace ratings of 104 and 105 in two of her three victories this season.

SLIDE ON BYE (Smart Strike) is eligible to improve in her second start of the

year. Conditioned by Francisco Bravo, the five-year-old mare closed ground for

second in the Irving Distaff last time and will look to pounce in the stretch

here. The late runner probably won't have much pace in front, but we won't be

surprised to see her round out the exacta beneath Sidney LeJeune.

LOVE TO TELL (Stage Colony) parlayed a good trip into a third in last year's

race and appears capable of another top-three placing here. A decent second in a

grassy allowance last time at Evangeline Downs, the five-year-old mare owns a

respectable 4-1-0-2 mark over the course and should secure favorable positioning

during the early stages with her tactical speed.

FORTUNIA (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) is facing a stiff class hike in her stakes

debut and we'll just watch to see how the three-year-old filly fares. THE CAT

WHO (Magic Cat) rolled to a wire-to-wire victory over Texas-bred rivals last

time but will likely revert to stalking tactics here. Her BRIS numbers are too

low for us to recommend her chances.