Shirley Jones

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

SUGAR SWIRL (Touch Gold) leads a field of seven in the $200,000 Shirley Jones

H. (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday for trainer Brian Lynch. We respect the

favorite and wouldn't be surprised to see her take this, but we'll look

elsewhere for a price.

SHAGGY MANE (Bertrando) has run in the slop and on two synthetic ovals in her

last three and should relish the return to the dirt while making her first

try for conditioner Richard Dutrow. The speedy dark bay had won four in a row on

the dirt, capped by the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint over this strip

in January of last year, prior to placing fourth in the Humana Distaff S. (G1)

and finishing second in the Princess Rooney H. (G1) in the summer. The mare has

run upon synthetic surfaces as of late, which don't suit her early speed, but we expect

her to show huge improvement off the shelf. A solid worktab and the presence of

Cornelio Velasquez only add to the appeal.

Sugar Swirl has won three of her four starts over this strip, including the

First Lady H. (G3) and Hurricane Bertie H. (G3) in her two tries in 2008. The

chestnut mare hasn't missed a beat in her morning drills, has never been better,

and is well drawn on the outside under Javier Castellano. The Canadian-bred

offers much to like.

DIXIE DREAMER (Mutakddim) has really come to hand for trainer Marty Wolfson,

and the consistent sort has an exotics chance with her best in here. The

chestnut was a good second in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint and

followed that up with a facile allowance tally in advance of this. The

five-year-old should have ample speed at which to run, and if the early

leaders falter, she has a chance to pick up many of the pieces. Eddie Castro has

the call.

LADY MARLBORO (Smoke Glacken), dead-heat winner of the Sabin H. (G3), has been freshened for this event

by Jimmy Jerkens and rates a big exotics threat with something resembling her

best effort. The bay four-year-old is as consistent as they come, finishing in

the top three in nine of her 11 lifetime starts, and she's a winner at the trip

and over the surface. The Kentucky-bred will likely employ a stalk-and-pounce

trip under John Velazquez.

FEATHERBED (Smart Strike) is a filly we've always been fond of, but we're

afraid that the chestnut may get fried early on if she goes for the lead.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Grade 1-placed stakes vixen looked good in dusting

allowance foes in preparation for this start and has trained well in the interim,

but her best chances would be for her to sit off the early tempo, and that's

something we're not sure that she can do.

WINDYINDY (A.P. Indy), whose dam is a full sister to champion Banshee Breeze,

has been much the best in her last pair but steps up in a big way against this

group for Carl Nafzger. The dark bay four-year-old has been in the money in

seven straight and is surely on the improve, but she'd need an ideal set-up to

find her way into the top three. BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg) showed great

heart and determination in her sophomore campaign, but showed little in a

fourth-place allowance effort last out for Bill Mott, and she can't be endorsed

in here off her latest showing.