Regret

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A competitive group of 11 three-year-old fillies will square off in the

$150,000 Regret S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, and one who figures to

benefit from the stretch out to nine furlongs is PRYTANIA (Royal Academy), who

is our selection to rebound from her first unplaced finish in the American One

Thousand Guineas.

Trainer Tom Proctor had the bay lass ready to win her maiden by a convincing

3 1/2 lengths second time out at Tampa Bay Downs over the winter, then stepped

up to comfortably take a first-level allowance at Keeneland by 1 3/4 lengths

going nine panels. However, the cut back to a mile in the Guineas at Arlington

appeared to work against her as she commenced her rally far too late. She wound

up a length behind in fourth, but we expect her to be in the mix at the end of

this having an additional furlong to work with. Ace turf jock Julien Leparoux

takes over for the injured Rene Douglas.

EXCELENTE (Ire) (Exceed and Excel), the runner-up in the Guineas, turned in

her best effort in five career attempts on grass that day and we don't see any

reason why she can not improve off that showing. The downside from a bettor's

perspective is that the nice price available in the Guineas will be drastically

lower here, thus she is not expected to offer much in the way of value.

OCULUNA (Century City [Ire]) has the same connections as Excelente but will

be uncoupled in the wagering. The possibility exists that this one might be used

as a rabbit to ensure a fast pace, but on paper she seems like the only one with

speed so there's a chance she might get brave on the lead if not challenged. A

former claimer, she doesn't quite fit the profile of a graded stakes winner, so

we'll leave her on the lower rungs of the exotics.

HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge) narrowly missed to a huge longshot in the

Appalachian S. (G3) in her turf debut two back, then did not have the easiest of

trips in the American One Thousand Guineas where she checked in fifth. We expect

her to be more competitive with a repeat or better of her Appalachian

performance. KEERTANA (Johar) recently captured an allowance over this turf

course and seems like the progressive type that will make her presence felt in

this spot. She is another who will be making her best move late, and the extra

ground will be to her benefit also.

THE BEST DAY EVER (Brahms) is two-for-three on grass, and after beating

maiden claimers two back successfully moved up in class to upset allowance foes

at 12-1 last time. We think this hike might prove too steep, however, so we'll

side with others. BANKER'S CHOICE (Canadian Frontier) perhaps needs this race to

fall apart to score the mild upset. The deep closer has been running out of real

estate over her past four starts, and the stretch out to nine furlongs won't

necessarily be all that she needs.

RENA (More Than Ready), the runner-up in the Hilltop S. at Pimlico last time,

has relatively modest BRIS Speed ratings and will need to elevate her game in

this contest. KISS MINE (Mineshaft) was never a threat in the Edgewood S. two

back, but did improve to finish a close second to Keertana last time. We still

like that rival and others in this spot. SATANS QUICK CHICK (Sky Mesa) was a

non-threatening fourth in her only turf outing and seems bred more along the

lines of a dirt performer. SUPER PONI (Volponi) is also winless on grass, though

she was hampered by a slow pace in her recent comeback against allowance foes.