Vagrancy

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven fast fillies and mares will travel 6 1/2 furlongs in Saturday's

$150,000 Vagrancy H. (G2) at Belmont Park. We really like the progression made

by HOUR GLASS (Petionville) since transferring to the barn of Todd Pletcher and

will take a shot with the filly in this field. The improving bay filly has

decent tactical speed, but we see her as a deep closer in this field with a lot

of horses to like to run on or just off the early tempo. Second in the Distaff

H. (G2) most recently, the Kentucky-bred should be rolling late.

TAR HEEL MOM (Flatter), who bagged the Distaff last out, always fires for

trainer Stan Hough and looks like a heavy favorite in this contest. The

five-year-old has been in the top three in eight of 10 and has trained well in

advance of this, but she won't be able to dominate on the front end like she did

last time. It will still be no surprise to see her wind up with another victory,

but we'll take a stand against at a very short price and use her in second

beneath Alan Garcia.

Recent Chilukki S. (G2) heroine MALIBU PRAYER (Malibu Moon) is peaking for

Pletcher and is another who makes a ton of sense in this affair. The

Virginia-bred ran a career best when romping in a stakes race over this oval two

prior and should be forwardly placed throughout under John Velazquez.

SAARLIGHT (Saarland) has been very consistent in her career for conditioner

Kiaran McLaughlin and had a nice prep over this strip in readying for this

affair. The Kentucky-bred has very good tactical speed and a fine outside draw

and even though we're not thrilled that the filly lost her regular pilot, we

consider her a serious top three threat with Eibar Coa. Top New York-bred

RIGHTLY SO (Read the Footnotes) has never finished worse than third in her

career but will be facing open foes for the initial time for conditioner Anthony

Dutrow. The dark bay filly netted a 103 BRIS Speed rating last time and is a

model of consistency, so can't be dismissed for a minor award against this

well-matched cast.

Multiple stakes vixen HOLD THAT PROSPECT (Hold That Tiger), who is

cross-entered to Saturday's My Juliet S. at Philadelphia Park, has had some

success here but seems better suited to the winter circuit in New York for

conditioner Gary Gullo. Multiple stakes winner LADY ALEXANDER (Exchange Rate)

seems more likely at middle distances and could be exposed against some fast

ladies in this endeavor.