Sugar Swirl

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Nine fillies and mares will square off in Saturday's $100,000 Sugar Swirl S.

(G3) at Gulfstream Park, and there appears to be plenty of pace to set things up

for our top choice, PRETTY PROLIFIC (Lion Heart). A late-running fourth last

time out in the Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland, the four-year-old recorded an

excellent second in her previous dirt start, the Test S. (G1) at Saratoga, and

has finished either first or second in her last four attempts on conventional

tracks. She's earned BRIS Late Pace ratings of 105 and 101 in those outings, and

the James Baker-trained stalker is well drawn in post 9 with Edgar Prado. She'll

try to run down the speed in the stretch.

HONCHIS'N PONCHIS (City Zip) will be tested for class in this spot, but the

chestnut wrapped up last year on a strong note for conditioner Dale Romans and

could carry her encouraging form forward at four. A six-furlong specialist, she

rallied from off the pace to win going away in her last two starts, registering

BRIS Late Pace ratings of 97 and 104, and the late runner will look to make her

presence felt at a price (12-1 morning line) here. We give her a chance for the

upset.

Grade 3 winner BOLD UNION (Dixie Union) ranks first in BRIS Prime Power and

merits serious respect with her early speed, but we don't like the rail post and

will try to beat her for the win. Trained by Kelly Breen, the four-year-old has

BRIS E2 numbers of 108-107-107 in her last three starts, with triple-digit Speed

ratings in her last two victories, but there have been no winners from the rail

in the first 10 six-furlong races this meet, with post 2 and 3 accounting for

only one win combined. The bay lass will also probably face early pressure from

the well-regarded THUNDERS DOVE (Thunderello) to her outside. Bold Union managed

to hold second or third in three of nine starts last year (winning four times),

and we'll endorse her for a placing.

Thunders Dove is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line for Nick Zito. The

six-year-old mare got on quite a roll in 2008, winning her last four starts, and

opened last season with a four-length victory in the Addison Mallery S. at

Saratoga. She started only once more, weakening to fourth in the Gallant Bloom

H. (G2), and has some fitness questions to answer on Saturday, but she does

appear to be working up a storm, registering a couple of recent bullets at Palm

Meadows. The front runner owns the BRIS numbers to challenge for it all, but

this is a tough spot off the 105-day layoff. Your call.

Unbeaten WARBLING (Unbridled's Song) will make her stakes bow off a pair of

nice wins in Kentucky, breaking her maiden by 7 1/2 lengths at Keeneland prior

to a head score in an entry-level allowance at Churchill, but her BRIS Speed ratings (96 and 92) are a little light. The promising four-year-old

has been heavily supported as the odds-on choice in both starts and looks like a

potential underlay to us here, but the stalker figures to get a good set-up and

is eligible to challenge for at least a minor award. D'WILD RIDE (D'wildcat)

will bring a four-race win streak into her graded debut. After registering

commendable BRIS Speed ratings in the first three wins, the five-year-old mare

netted a career-best 100 last time, winning an allowance/optional claiming event

at Philadelphia Park. She's been freshened 63 days for this event and owns a

respectable 3-1-1-0 mark over the track, and we can't count the stalker out of

top three consideration. However, we don't like the post (2) and have some class

concerns in this spot.

SAILING TIME (Unbridled Time) exits three straight wins at Calder, but she's

stepping up to face better and was no factor in two starts over the track last

season. TAR HEEL MOM (Flatter) could mix it up on the front end early, but we

can't envision her sustaining her speed. SARATOGA TANGO (Successful Appeal)

doesn't look fast enough to challenge.