Pocahontas

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A baker's dozen will contest Sunday's Pocahontas S. (G3), and the one-mile

event lacks a standout like its male counterpart, the Iroquois S. (G3). Grade

2-placed SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) is the likely favorite, but we'll tab TIZ MIZ

SUE (Tiznow) for the win.

Trained by Steve Hobby, Tiz Miz Sue came up a nose short when making her

debut at Arlington in mid-July and then rolled to a 7 3/4-length, wire-to-wire

victory over maiden special weight rivals in August. She looked like the speed

in her stakes debut, the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3), but missed the break

and rushed up prematurely following the tardy start to grab the lead between

calls on the far turn. She was no match for She Be Wild (Offlee Wild), a top

contender in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), in the stretch, but Tiz

Miz Sue held gamely for second and is eligible to improve significantly off that

effort. The dark bay doesn't need the early lead to be effective and we'll look for her

to sit close before pouncing beneath new rider Jesus Castanon.

VERTICAL VISION (Pollard's Vision) rolled to a comfortable three-length score

in the Prairie Meadows Debutante S. last time and has captured her last three

outings on dirt. Trained by Steve Asmussen, who appeared to have been gearing up

for Churchill following a slow Keeneland meet, the dark bay has earned BRIS

Speed ratings of 94 and 96 in her last two dirt efforts. Those numbers stack

up very comfortably here, and Vertical Vision looks like a major player under

Shaun Bridgmohan.

Sassy Image broke her maiden by 5 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs and finished

second when making her stakes debut in the Adirondack S. (G2). The Dale Romans

filly was never a factor when finishing fourth in the seven-furlong Spinaway (G1)

next out and exits a dull eighth over the Polytrack in the Alcibiades (G1).

We're not too thrilled that she's struggled while stretching out in distance the

last two times, but the chestnut will receive some class relief in this spot. We

can envision Robby Albarado cutting out a perfect stalking trip, just off the

front runners, but we'll try to beat her for top honors at a short price.

VIVID COLORS (Roman Ruler) figures to show speed from her outside post and is

a threat to last a long way. She broke her maiden at first asking at Churchill,

winning by 5 3/4 lengths in the slop, and turned in a strong showing over the

Polytrack at Keeneland last time, just missing after setting the pace in a 1

1/16-mile allowance. The cut back to one mile figures to benefit the Kenny

McPeek trainee.

DECELERATOR (Dehere) won her first two starts at Churchill, including a neck

decision in the Debutante S. (G3), but she's gone off form in her last three

efforts, finishing far back in two stakes at Saratoga and the Alcibiades at

Keeneland. We can't count her out given her past affinity for Churchill, but the

dark bay doesn't appear to be at her best presently. ALL ABOUT ANNA (Maria's

Mon) brings respectable dirt form into the race, winning the Bassinet S. two

starts back by six lengths, but the gray lass was unplaced in two starts earlier

this year at Churchill. She doesn't look fast enough to challenge for the win,

but we wouldn't be shocked to see a strong showing from the likely longshot that

results in a minor award.

TIDAL POOL (Yankee Gentleman) posted a good win two starts back on the dirt

at Saratoga, and the filly finished a decent sixth after setting the pace in the

Alcibiades. She looks like pace presence from the far outside, but we still have

some class concerns with the Lukas runner. Undefeated Indiana-bred RUNNING BRIDE (Cherokee

Run) will enter on a roll, posting a couple of decisive stakes victories at

Hoosier Park over state-breds, but she's never been past six furlongs and will

be tested for class here. Look for her to add to the pace, but we can't

recommend her chances. SNAP HAPPY (Lion Heart) is a two-time winner for Dallas

Stewart, but her BRIS numbers are too low for us to back her.

ALL DUE RESPECT (Value Plus) has turned in two solid efforts at Monmouth, but

we won't go with the maiden stretching out in distance on Sunday. HAPPY WEEK

(Distorted Humor) faces a tough task off a maiden special weight score at

Meadowlands. JODY SLEW (Slew City Slew) probably needs easier company to be

competitive. BIORRA (Smoke Glacken) wasn't much of a factor in two starts at

River Downs and looks overmatched in this spot.