Tuscan Evening tops Monrovia

Tuscan Evening, who will break from post 8 beneath a returning Rafael

Bejarano, will meet a couple of familiar opponents on Sunday. PASAR SILBANO

(Ire) (Elnadim), the Maddy runner-up, enters off a two-month freshening for

James Cassidy. The speedy four-year-old is a horse-for-the-course, having landed

the La Habra S. (G3) early in 2009. Tuscan Evening wasn't able to run her down

in the Maddy, and must lift her game to do so here.

REBA IS TOPS (He's Tops) also got the better of Tuscan Evening last campaign

when runner-up in the Las Cienegas, just missing to the accomplished Gotta Have

Her (Royal Academy), but failed to duplicate that performance with an

uncharacteristic sixth in the Maddy. Reba Is Tops has since rebounded with two

solid efforts and is eligible to give a better account of herself Sunday.

Four-time stakes winner QUEEN OFTHE CATSLE (Tale of the Cat) is another

divisional mainstay who looms as a prime contender, if she reverts to her best

form. The Howard Zucker mare garnered the 2008 Maddy, but was a non-threatening

eighth in her title defense.

Three intriguing entrants are turning back in distance. LEMON CHIFFON (Lemon

Drop Kid) has finished second in the 1 3/8-mile C.T.T. and Thoroughbred Owners

of California H., fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) and third in

the 1 1/8-mile Cardinal H. (G3) in her last three. The lightly-raced

four-year-old HERMIONE'S MAGIC (GB) (Systematic) was most recently a rallying

third in the one-mile Starine S. LUCKY COPY (Unbridled's Song), a front-running

winner of the 2008 Hatoof S., comes off a tiring ninth in the Bayakoa H. (G2)

going two turns on Cushion Track for Todd Pletcher.

Four races earlier on Sunday's card, FREE FLYING SOUL (Quiet American) will

seek to continue her marked progress in the $60,000

Kalookan Queen H. over 6 1/2 Pro-Ride furlongs. The Bruce Headley mare

rapidly developed into a top-class sprinter last fall, her victories in the

Louis R. Rowan S. and Winter S. bookending a game third in the Breeders' Cup

Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Mike Smith will pilot the 121-pound highweight.

Among her six opponents are reigning Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint

heroine HIGH RESOLVE (Put It Back), who returns from a seven-month layoff for

Greg Gilchrist; the streaking U R ALL THAT I AM (Valid Wager), who racked up her

fourth win in a row in the Cat's Cradle H. last out; turf stakes veteran PORTO

MARMAY (Ire) (Choisir), trying synthetic for the first time; and Remington Park

Filly & Mare Sprint S. queen NADESHIKO (Honour and Glory), making her debut for

John Sadler.