Ruffian

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

A small but talented field of six will contest the storied Ruffian H. (G1) at

Belmont Park on Sunday. Won in the past by champions Inside Information (Private

Account) and Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom [Fr]), the 1 1/16-mile event has drawn multiple Grade 1 winners SOCIETY SELECTION (Coronado's

Quest) and STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush), and we'll have to go with the former D.

Wayne Lukas trainee.

Now under the tutelage of Saeed bin Suroor, Stellar Jayne was purchased at

the 2004 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $3.6 million. In her

three-year-old season, the gray miss ran an unexplained seventh in the Kentucky

Oaks (G1) before hitting the board in her next seven starts, recording wins in

the Mother Goose S. (G1), Gazelle H. (G1) (both at Belmont) and Dogwood

Breeders' Cup S. (G3) while placing in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Alabama

S. (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks (G3).

The four-year-old didn't return to action for her new trainer until July of this

year, annexing the Misty Galore S. over this track, and has been training

forwardly. Jerry Bailey returns to ride, and we think Stellar Jayne will be the

horse to beat on Sunday.

The Todd Pletcher-trained CAPESIDE LADY (Cape Town) is a formidable opponent,

entering off two wins in a row at Monmouth Park. A winner of the Molly Pitcher

Breeders' Cup H. (G2) going the Ruffian distance last time, the bay filly is a

good use for the gimmicks.

Society Selection loves Belmont Park, showing a record of 6-2-3-0 at the

Elmont, New York, oval. The Allen Jerkens-trained four-year-old annexed the Shuvee H. (G2) going one mile three starts back, and could relish the shortening

in distance she'll receive in this spot after finishing fourth in the

nine-furlong Go For Wand H. (G1) last time. Javier Castellano has the call.

HALORY LEIGH (Halory Hunter) rates our longshot special off her second-place

finish last out in the Gardenia H. (G3), her first race since last November. She

may have needed that one off a layoff, and she is a serious threat for the upset

if she can return to her Falls City H. (G2)-winning form.

BENDING STRINGS (American Chance) has been consistently beaten in her last

seven starts and has performed better at sprint distances. We'll let the Wally

Dollase trainee beat us.

Bobby Frankel will send TAYGETE (Miswaki) out for the Ruffian, but the

four-year-old bay appears to be ambitiously spotted and we'll have to go

against.