Test

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A tough pair of coupled entries lead a field of 10 sophomore fillies set to

contest Saturday's Test S. (G1) at Saratoga. The seven-furlong event has a

talented cast, but we think we can beat the big guns with the John

Morrison-trained ACEY DEUCEY (Abaginone). The Prioress S. (G1) victress has

finished off the board only once this year, showing a 2005 mark of 6-4-1-0,

including wins in the Comely S. (G2) and Dearly Precious S. Unlike some of her

Test rivals, the bay is a confirmed sprinter, and her closing kick could

surprise all on Saturday. Regular rider Diane Nelson has the mount.

SENSE OF STYLE (Thunder Gulch) will run coupled with MADDALENA (Good and

Tough) for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The former, conditioned by

Patrick Biancone, finished third to our top selection last time in the Prioress

and showed an affinity for Saratoga at two. She broke her maiden at the Saratoga

Springs, New York, oval at first asking and returned to annex the Spinaway S.

(G2) in her next start. A Grade 1 winner, Sense of Style could prove tough to

deny under Edgar Prado, but we'll just use her underneath Acey Deucey in the

gimmicks. 

Of the two Nick Zito-trained fillies, IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile) appears to

have a better chance in the Test. The chestnut is a winner at the distance,

annexing the Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland earlier this year. She shortens up

here and is a good use to round out the exotics.

Maddalena was only a half-length short in the Prioress and has the red-hot

trainer/jockey combination of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez. The chestnut has

flourished at shorter distances, but also over off tracks. We'll use her in the

lower levels of the gimmicks.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, LADY PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) rates our longshot

special. Fifth in the nine-furlong Mother Goose S. (G1) last time, we think

she'll enjoy the shortening in distance and will have her in the exotic plays.

LEAVE ME ALONE (Bold Badgett) ran a huge BRIS Speed rating of 106 last time

when victorious in the Azalea Breeders' Cup S. (G3) but may still be a class

below these and we'll have to go against. HIDE AND CHIC (Seeking the Gold), the

other half of the Zito entry, has had success against stakes rivals in Florida

but we'll watch her first try against Grade 1 opponents here.

POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) would be a

surprise in this spot. ASPEN TREE (Holy Bull) has consistently run at the graded

level but has little to show for it. Heavenly Cause S. winner FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman)

enters in much the same way as Hide and Chic -- outclassed.