Spinster

Sunday's $500,000 Spinster S. (G1) may not be as strong as recent editions of

the nine-furlong test, but a well-matched field of 11 distaffers will square off

in Keeneland's showcase event. There is plenty of speed present and the Spinster

might set up for a slight upset.

HALORY LEIGH (Halory Hunter) is poorly drawn in the far outside post (11),

but jockey Craig Perret figures to drop in behind rivals in order to save ground

into the far turn and the chestnut may not suffer too wide of a trip. She exits

a solid third-place finish against better rivals in the Ruffian H. (G1), making

up ground nicely through the stretch to earn a 104 BRIS Late Pace rating, and is

one for one at 1 1/8 miles for conditioner Dale Romans. Halory Leigh didn't make

her 2005 bow until the Gardenia H. (G3) in late August, finishing a good second,

and this will be her third start off the layoff. She appears to be on the

upswing for her connections and owns a nice win over the track last October.

We'll give her a slight edge.

ISOLA PIU BELLA (Chi) (Rich Man's Gold) is a dangerous late runner who could

prove impossible to deny. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old will be

making her first start since finishing eighth in the Delaware H. (G2) in

mid-July, but the bay mare runs well fresh and displayed terrific form earlier

in the season, recording sharp wins in both the Sabin H. (G3) and Sixty Sails H.

(G3). She's earned top BRIS Speed and Late Pace numbers and appears to be

training well. Isola Piu Bella looks like a deserving favorite.

CAPESIDE LADY (Cape Town) runs uncoupled for Pletcher and will be prominent

on the front end from the outset. She recorded impressive back-to-back wins at

Monmouth Park prior to a sixth last time in the Ruffian, but the four-year-old

New York-bred didn't break well and never settled into a comfortable trip. Chris

DeCarlo should establish a better running position here on or near the early

lead, and Capeside Lady could hang around a long way.

WINNING SEASON (Lemon Drop Kid) steps up but looms as a possible top three

candidate at long odds. The D. Wayne Lukas-conditioned sophomore enters on the

upswing, capturing a Turfway optional claiming/allowance event by seven lengths

last time, and we've seen the Hall of Fame conditioner's three-year-olds improve

rapidly in a short period of time before. Winning Season owns Grade 1 experience

and might come running late for part. MISS FORTUNATE (Deputy Minister) closed

boldly to win the Turfway Breeders' Cup S. (G3) last time, but she's stepping up

in class on Sunday for trainer Bill Mott. The five-year-old mare has fared well

at the distance (5-2-1-1) and owns some appeal for the gimmicks with her Late

Pace figures, so we'll have to use her on some tickets.

PLEASANT HOME (Seeking the Gold) looks like a dangerous late runner for

trainer Shug McGaughey and merits serious consideration for the bottom of the

exotics. We're not convinced that this is the four-year-old's best distance, but

she exits a fine second in the Ballerina S. (G1) and owns the Speed figures to

challenge here late. PAMPERED PRINCESS (Indian Charlie) will face some pressure

up front, but the Florida invader remains a threat if the track is favoring

speed. She exits a sharp stakes win at Calder and has won at the distance

before, so throw her out at your own risk.

BENDING STRINGS (American Chance) didn't run well over the track in April and

may prefer a little less ground. The multiple Grade 2 winner has the class to

challenge, recording a second in the Go for Wand H. (G1) and a third in the

Ogden Phipps H. (G1) behind Ashado (Saint Ballado), and wouldn't surprise us

with a top three finish, but we'll let her beat us. TAMWEEL (Gulch) is last

year's runner-up and attracts the services of Jerry Bailey off a close third in

a stakes at Philadelphia Park, but her form isn't as sharp as it was entering

this event in 2004 and Tamweel faces a difficult pace scenario.

SANTA CANDIDA (Arg) (Espaciado) doesn't look fast enough to make an impact.

GO GIRLFRIEND GO (Demidoff) is winless from 11 starts this year and isn't

well-spotted here.