Rose Catherine likely favorite in Appalachian

Two of the leading juvenile turf fillies in North America last year will

square off in Thursday's $100,000

Appalachian S. (G3) at Keeneland, a one-mile turf affair that has attracted

six other three-year-old fillies. Favoritism is likely to fall on ROSE CATHERINE

(Speightstown), whose only loss in three turf appearances was a narrow

second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Unsuccessful in three starts on dirt and synthetic, the Todd Pletcher-trained

Rose Catherine has been nearly unstoppable on the grass. After running her

competition off their feet in a maiden over Belmont Park's inner turf on October

11, the dark bay attempted to do the same at the Breeders' Cup and almost

succeed. Only Tapitsfly (Tapit) among her 11 rivals managed to pass her, with

the margin being three parts of a length.

Rose Catherine made her seasonal reappearance in the January 24 Sweet Life S.

at Santa Anita, a downhill sprint which she won by 3 1/2 lengths. Behind her

that day were Tanda (Sweetsouthernsaint), subsequent winner of the Santa Paula

S. (G3), and City to City (City Zip), who later took the China Doll S. and

Providencia S. (G2) over the same course.

BAY TO BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) did not contest the Breeders' Cup after

prevailing in the Natalma S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine over a mile, but instead

stayed home to run in the Mazarine S. (Can-G3) over Polytrack. Second to

eventual Canadian co-champion Biofuel (Stormin Fever) there, she enters the

Appalachian off a long string of grass works at Palm Meadows, the latest being a

five-furlong bullet move around the dogs. Javier Castellano, who rode Rose

Catherine throughout her juvenile campaign, will take over the mount on Bay to

Bay.

ORCHESTRATOR (Bernstein) is the only other graded winner in the field, having

taken the Bourbonette Oaks (G3) in her latest. She failed to factor in the China

Doll two back, but does own a win over the Keeneland turf against allowance

company last October. RED HOT BUDDHA (Buddha), like her name implies, enters

with four wins in six career starts, three of which were on turf. However, none

of her grass wins have been beyond about 5 1/2 furlongs, and she might find

herself closer to the pace than usual while stretching out around two-turns.

CHECK THE LABEL (Stormin Fever) was never worse than fourth in three stakes

appearances at Gulfstream over the winter, and was beaten a length or less in

both the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) and Coconut Grove S. CACTUS CADILLAC (Cactus

Ridge) won her turf debut at Churchill last November then rallied for fifth in

the Carressing H. following a slow start. She was a wide-trip fourth in the

Bourbonette Oaks most recently. The field is rounded out by GO ASK ALEX (Afleet

Alex), a maiden winner over males on the Fair Grounds turf last time, and ALL

COUNTY (Medallist), a former claimer making her turf debut on Thursday.