Schuylerville

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Wednesday's $100,000 Schuylerville S. (G3) is a dynamite opening-day feature

at the Spa stocked with promising two-year-old filly talent. Grade 3 winners

AEGEAN (Northern Afleet) and DECELERATOR (Dehere) are top draws, and some of the

last-out maiden special weight winners, including 4-1 morning-line choice HOT

DIXIE CHICK (Dixie Union), look capable of making a serious impact in their

stakes bow.

COWGIRL MALLY  (Gone West) exits a smashing debut score at Churchill

Downs on July 4, earning a 104 BRIS Speed rating for her one-length decision,

and we'll take a stab at some value (10-1 morning line). We loved her turn of

foot last time, rallying from midpack to the lead with complete authority, and

she finished fast, registering a 102 BRIS Late Pace number. The stalker appeared

to have much more to offer in her upcoming starts, and we love the way she

returned to the worktab, posting a four-furlong bullet drill in :47 2/5 on

Friday. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Cowgirl Mally is well-drawn in post 3 and

picks up the services of New York's leading rider Ramon Dominguez. The dark bay

lass will look to pounce upon the front runners.

BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) made quite an impression when debuting on June 5 at

Churchill, rolling to a two-length decision, and trainer Kenny McPeek decided to

freshen her for Saratoga afterward. He could be rewarded with a victory.

Beautician will be stalking the pace beneath Kent Desormeaux from post 10, and

the gray lass figures to be a serious presence turning for home if not too wide.

Precociously bred, Beautician recorded top-class BRIS Speed and Pace numbers

last time, and we think she'll be a serious presence in juvenile filly stakes

ranks if she remains healthy. She could prove difficult to deny here.

Hot Dixie Chick is a threat to run her rivals into the ground from the rail.

The innermost post is a potential drawback, as is the presence of some serious

speed to her outside, but we're not oblivious to her potential: the Steve

Asmussen trainee could be really special. After missing by a half-length to

Decelerator in her career bow over a sloppy track, the dark bay recorded an

outstanding performance over a fast track at Churchill on June 13, drilling

maiden special weight rivals by 5 3/4 lengths while setting a new five-furlong

track record of :56.48, and earned a whopping 110 BRIS

Speed rating for her effort. She's been freshened 46 days off that effort and is

training up a storm in preparation for her stakes bow, posting a five-furlong

bullet work in 1:00 2/5 over the Oklahoma training track recently. If she breaks

well, Hot Dixie Chick will attempt to lead all the way under regular rider Robby

Albarado.

Aegean figures to sit a favorable trip, rating in midpack before launching an

assault on the far turn, and we have a ton of respect for the Wesley Ward

trainee. After crushing debut rivals on the front end at Keeneland, she asserted herself from just off the pace in the Debutante S. (G3),

surging to a neck decision, and she was flattered when runner-up Jealous Again

(Trippi) captured the Queen Mary S. (Eng-G2) next out at Royal Ascot and was

acquired by Godolphin. Aegean didn't fire her best shot in England last time,

checking in ninth at low odds in the Albany S. (Eng-G3), but she's trained

forwardly since returning to America at Monmouth Park. It will be no surprise to

see her return to the winner's circle.

Decelerator deserves serious consideration for the top three. Trained by D.

Wayne Lukas, the bay miss is two-for-two overall and has shown her mettle each

time, gamely outfinishing well-regarded opponents in both victories. Julien Leparoux

will return to the saddle, and the dark bay lass figures to have a stiff early

pace run down. She'll likely be picking off rivals in the stretch run.

SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) drew off to a 5 3/4-length romp when making her second

start over a good track at Churchill last time, registering excellent BRIS Speed

and Pace numbers, and there's the possibility of some afternoon showers on the

opening program. The chestnut could enjoy clear sailing from post 8 under Miguel

Mena, and she'll offer great value (15-1 on the morning line) for Dale Romans.

We'll have to include her on the bottom of some exotics. VIVID COLORS (Roman

Ruler) will be winging it early for McPeek. She displayed a lot of early gas

when debuting in the slop at Churchill last time, leading wire to wire in a 5

3/4-length trouncing, and new rider Calvin Borel will be hustling her from the

break on Wednesday. She could have serious trouble lasting in this spot, but we

won't be surprised to see the good-looking gray hold for a minor award.

FRANNY FREUD (Freud) posted a sharp score over open rivals at Belmont when

making her debut on May 21, winning by seven lengths, and she exits a second

over the Polytrack in the My Dear S. at Woodbine. Trained by John Terranova, the

New York-bred miss is no slouch, but she'll have to move forward significantly

to threaten. KINSOLVING (Posse) exits a non-threatening third in the Debutante

and owns lower BRIS numbers. We can't can't recommend her chances.

THAT'S HOW I ROLL (Speightstown) deserves kudos for a solid three-length

maiden tally last time, but we'll give her a start against winners. The same

goes for SO N SO (Freud), who easily handled New York-bred opponents when making

her career bow last out.

WILD WITHOUT WINE (Kela) managed to post a 10-length decision despite

stumbling at the start last time at Delaware Park, but she garnered only an 88

Speed rating. This looks like a learning experience. STORMANDAPRAYER

(Songandaprayer) is still a maiden and would be a big surprise in this deep

line-up.