Ruffian J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

A small, but quality field of five will go postward in Saturday's $300,000

Ruffian H. (G1) at Belmont Park. The 1 1/16-mile test lost some of its appeal

when Belmont S. (G1) queen Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) wasn't entered in favor of

running in the Gazelle S. (G1) next weekend, but will likely still prove

exciting with the likes of GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) and TAKE D' TOUR (Tour

d'Or) fighting it out.

Ginger Punch has always been competitive, but lately seems to have improved

by leaps and bounds. The Bobby Frankel-trained four-year-old has finished worse

than second only once in her 11-race career, and really jumped up a level when

second in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) in June over this track. She returned to

Belmont less than a month later and added a first stakes win to her record,

taking the First Flight H. (G2) by five lengths while setting much of the pace. The

chestnut lass then proved she could rate as well as lead when posting a

six-length victory in the Go for Wand H. (G1) last out. Ginger Punch earned

triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings for each of those starts and will be tough to

catch in this spot. Regular rider Rafael Bejarano has the return call, and the

pair could continue their current streak.

Ginger Punch has already beaten a couple of her Ruffian rivals, but

couldn't get past Take D' Tour when that one successfully defended her title in

the Ogden Phipps. The David Fawkes-conditioned Take D' Tour began the year with

a second in the Sunshine Millions Distaff, then battled for the lead throughout

the Apple Blossom H. (G1) before winding up second on that day. Receiving a

two-month freshening, the six-year-old returned on June 16 to post a neck

victory in the Ogden Phipps, a race she won by 5 1/2 front-running lengths in

2006. Take D' Tour will be returning off a near three-month break in this 1

1/16-mile event, and will try to move up one spot after running second in last

year's Ruffian. She could do just that under Eibar Coa.

MISS SHOP (Deputy Minister) will also be trying to improve on her third-place

finish in the 2006 Ruffian, but has already been well beaten by both our top

picks. Fourth in the Ogden Phipps and second in the Go for Wand, the Allen Jerkens charge showed back up at Saratoga to take the 10-furlong Personal Ensign

S. (G1) by three lengths. She'll probably prefer more distance than this one

offers, but still seems to be the best of the rest. Javier Castellano will be

back in the saddle.

TEAMMATE (A.P. Indy) captured the Shuvee H. (G2) over the track going a mile

earlier this season, but has been trounced by our top three in her three starts

since. She'll likely pick up a check, but we don't see her factoring otherwise.

RAHYS' APPEAL (Rahy) is a game rival who usually earns a share, but just

doesn't seem fast enough to keep up with these.