Sara Louise goes for Top Flight title defense

QUALIA (Saarland), forced to bypass the Filly & Mare Sprint after failing to

draw into the field, seeks her first graded victory, having missed by a head

when second in the Bed o' Roses H. (G3) at Belmont on July 5. The four-year-old

reappeared in the Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga on August 25, but reported home

last after her saddle slipped, and finished two lengths behind the winner when

fourth in the Gallant Bloom.

"Hopefully, she'll run well (in the Top Flight)," trainer Bobby Ribaudo said.

"You worry a bit about her being past (her) peak as she's been ready for the

last three weeks."

Qualia, the 3-1 second selection on the morning-line, will get a jockey

switch in the Top Flight to John Velazquez.

Those taking on Sara Louise and Qualia include OUR KHRYSTY (Newfoundland),

FUNNY MOON (Malibu Moon) and WAY WITH WORDS (Sefapiano), the respective

top-three finishers in the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3) at Belmont on October 30.

The Todd Beattie-trained Our Khrysty carries a two-race winning streak into

the Top Flight, having posted a 4 1/2-length success in the Nellie Bly S. at

Belmont prior to her Turnback the Alarm victory. Ramon Dominguez, aboard for

both of those scores, will once again ride Our Khrysty.

Funny Moon, second by a nose in the Turnback the Alarm, seeks her third

graded stakes triumph, having captured the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in

2009 and the Shuvee H. (G2) this May. The chestnut was third in the Ogden Phipps

H. (G1) and Delaware H. (G2) over the summer, and returned from a brief layoff

to finish fifth on Keeneland's Polytrack in the Spinster S. (G1) prior to her

New York outing most recently.

"We gave her a break this summer, just to give her a break," trainer

Christophe Clement explained. "She got beat but ran a nice race in the Turnback

the Alarm, and she's had two breezes since, working well both times."

Alan Garcia will guide Funny Moon, who is the co-top weight at 119 pounds.

Completing the Top Flight field are SPACY TRACY (Awesome Again), who has won

four of her last five races including a stakes at Delaware Park, and R BETTY

GRAYBULL (Holy Bull), heroine of the Anniron S. and second in the Iroquois S.

for New York-breds in her past two.

One race prior to the Top Flight, a field of 12, including two main-track

only entrants, will line up in the $60,000

Three Coins Up S. going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Included in the group are

Grade 3 winners OIL MAN (Ire) (Pyrus) and SAL THE BARBER (Alphabet Soup);

stakes-placed NICANOR (Dynaformer), full brother to the ill-fated Kentucky Derby

(G1) hero Barbaro; Grade 2 victor WESLEY (El Prado [Ire]); and stakes scorer

BOOTS AHEAD (Storm Boot), third in the Red Bank S. (G3) and River City H. (G3)

this year.