Prioress

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A terrific field will line up for Saturday's $250,000 Prioress S. (G1), and

we're going to give a slight nod to INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie), last

year's champion two-year-old filly. The dark bay lass was perfect in three

starts last season, including a strong gate-to-wire victory in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Indian Blessing held sway over eventual Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Proud Spell

(Proud Citizen) in the two-turn Silverbulletday S. (G3), then succumbed to that

rival late in the two-turn Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) earlier this year. In

her most recent outing, she set a quick early tempo before holding on well for

runner-up honors to the rapidly improving Zaftig (Gone West) in the Acorn S.

(G1). The Bob Baffert pupil should relish the cut-back in distance and rates the

call. Note that John Velazquez rides.

SECRET GYPSY (Sea of Secrets), who set a track record in her debut at

Saratoga last year, has excellent early speed and come off a better-than appears

third in the one-mile Dogwood S. (G3). The Ronny Werner trainee could be hard to

handle on the front end if she gets away alertly and should offer playable odds

as she is seeking her first black-type score. She is our sleeper under a

returning Elvis Trujillo.

BY THE LIGHT (Malibu Moon), one of two undefeated fillies in this race, will

try to work out a stalk-and-pounce trip for trainer Rick Dutrow and jockey Edgar

Prado. The bay filly captured the lucrative Delta Princess S. in her juvenile

finale and returned to action with a solid off-the-pace victory in the

six-furlong Pearl City S. on May 24. She gets a class test in this spot but

could be useful in the vertical exotics.

The well-seasoned PALANKA CITY (Carson City) was an emphatic, 5 1/2-length

winner of the Miss Preakness S. (G3) last out. The Terry Gestes trainee ships in

from Prairie Meadows and projects a clear, outside pressing trip. She could earn

a minor award. The undefeated Todd Pletcher-trained TALE OF THE WEST (Tale of

the Cat) looked good in both of her career starts, but we're concerned with the

company she has been keeping. Note that stable rider Velazquez is aboard our top

choice.

INDIAN WAY (Indian Charlie) has been on the synthetic surfaces in Southern

California and exits a maiden win at Hollywood Park. This seems like too much

too soon. HONEST TO BETSY (Yonaguska) appears to be a useful sort but has yet to

earn black-type in three attempts. We're just going to watch.