Pucker Up

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A contentious field of 10 has been entered to go 1 1/8 miles on Arlington

Park's turf in Monday's $100,000 Pucker Up S. (G3), and we're tabbing 4-1

morning-line second choice KILMORE QUAY (Ire) (Traditionally) to score her first

win stateside.

The Darrin Miller runner made her U.S. debut in the American One Thousand

Guineas on May 22, but lost all chance even before the gates opened. After being

unruly in the stalls, the chestnut lass bobbled at the start and fell back to

last. She rallied a bit in the stretch to finish sixth, but showed her true form

next out when going in the Virginia Oaks (G3) at Colonial Downs. Kilmore Quay

set the pace in that nine-furlong test and was just caught on the line while

easily holding second. The three-year-old lass could continue to move forward in

this, her third stateside start, all the way to the winner's circle. Michael

Baze has the call.

DUNDALK DUST (Military) concludes our Irish-themed exacta under Eddie

Perez. The dark bay lass will be saddled by trainer Chris Block, who wins 23

percent of the time when sending runners off a 46-90 day break. Dundalk Dust was

last seen taking a July 22 allowance on Arlington's turf and broke her maiden

over the course last August. The dark bay lass earned a nice 104 BRIS Late Pace

rating for her most recent one, and she could improve off a third, placed second

via disqualification, in the Arlington Oaks (G3) two back.

SILENT CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) was claimed out of an 8 1/2-furlong

allowance/optional claimer two back and made her first start for new conditioner

Andrew Hansen in the Hatoof S. That August 21 event also doubled as the filly's

stakes bow, and she successfully passed the test when winning by three parts of

a length. The chestnut lass is taking a step up in class, but so are many others

in this field, and we believe she's capable of making her presence felt in the

top three.

GO ASK ALEX (Afleet Alex) is no stranger to graded competition, but hasn't

reputed herself so well against those types. She'll not be facing the same

quality in this race, though, and could hold on for part late. The John Glenney

charge could easily find herself leading this field, just like she did in the

American One Thousand Guineas when she finished second. Another stakes placing

might be in her future here with Chris Emigh taking back the mount.

LA CLOCHE (Ghostzapper) is the 7-2 favorite on the morning line while making

her stakes bow in this spot. The Jim Toner pupil is probably a deserving

favorite off a pair of New York turf wins, but her numbers aren't any better

than others in here. We'll take a stab against at probable low odds. CAVE

CREEKER (Langfuhr) actually earned a higher Speed number last out for a neck

second against allowance/optional claiming rivals than La Cloche did when winning an

allowance at Saratoga on August 8. The bay miss has shown steady improvement in

her races and could pick up a share under E.T. Baird.

MADDIE'S ODYSSEY (Kitten's Joy) had a four-race win streak broken when fourth

in the Ellis Park Turf S. two back and regressed badly to be ninth in an

allowance/optional claimer last out. If she runs back to her spring form, the chestnut

lass has a shot at a check. Otherwise, the three-year-old looks to be an

also-ran. BESITOS' (Greatness) best finish at Arlington from four starts came as

a second in the Hatoof last out. We don't think she'll turn that trend around

here. Neither DADE BABE (Cimarron Secret) nor MOURETTE (Smart Strike) appear

fast enough to threaten.