Spinster

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

LITTLE BELLE (A.P. Indy) will return to Keeneland’s Polytrack in Sunday’s $500,000
Spinster S. (G1), and she’s our top pick. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the
Godolphin colorbearer has run well since capturing her lone Grade 1 victory in
April, finishing second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Coaching Club American
Oaks (G1) and third in the Alabama S. (G1). We won’t count her last effort in
the Ruffian S. (G1) against her given the sloppy track, and the sophomore filly
has trained well in advance of this start, recording a five-furlong bullet work
at Belmont Park last week.

In the Ashland, Little Belle recorded a near wire to wire decision, and there
isn’t much speed in Sunday’s line-up. The Polytrack was playing favorably to
front runners on Friday, and Little Belle will be on or very close to the early
pace under Rajiv Maragh. We’ll look for her to assert turning for home and earn
the win in her first start against elders.

CARRIAGE TRAIL (Giant’s Causeway) showed an affinity for Keeneland when
capturing the Doubledogdare S. (G3) in April, and the Shug McGaughey-trained
mare will enter this event in good form, recording a commendable runner-up
effort to Wait a While (Maria’s Mon) in the Ballston Spa H. (G2) last out.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux should put her tactical speed to good use, and Carriage
Trail is a threat to parlay a favorable trip into a win. She brings
excellent BRIS Late Pace ratings into the Spinster.

JIBBOOM (Mizzen Mast) rolled to a sharp 4 1/2-length win in the Raven Run S.
(G2) last October at Keeneland and has been training up a storm for Bobby
Frankel in preparation for her return to Polytrack. She should be more fit off
her fifth-place effort in the Ballerina S. (G1) last out, and we give her a good
chance to challenge from just off the pace. The gray four-year-old looks
dangerous.

WAKE UP MAGGIE (Ire) (Xaar) ships in from California off a victory in the
grassy Adoration S., and the Julio Canani trainee could make her presence felt
if she can transfer her form to this type of Polytrack. We’re not sure if she has the
class to challenge for the win, but we won’t be surprised to see her grab a
small share. ROSINKA (Ire) (Soviet Star) will likely show speed from her outside post, and
she is two for two over Keeneland’s Polytrack. Trained by Graham Motion, the
five-year-old mare could stick up around a long time, so consider her for the
bottom of the exotics.

UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow), a Grade 1 winner who has earned more than $1.5
million, definitely has the class to challenge for it all, but the five-year-old
mare never raced on a synthetic track and looks very vulnerable to us. We
respect the Todd Pletcher trainee on dirt, but we won’t take short odds on her
in this spot. Grade 2 winner SHARP SUSAN (Touch Gold) is a confirmed turf horse trying the
Polytrack. She’s got the back class to challenge if she handles the transition,
but we’re inclined to just watch and see how she does. INDESCRIBABLE (Pleasant
Tap) is a three-time winner on all-weather tracks, but we didn’t like her last
effort on Polytrack and aren’t enthused about her chances given her current form.

SAY YOU WILL (A.P. Indy) hasn’t shown enough in her recent starts for us to
recommend her chances. ROLLING SEA (Sefapiano) hasn’t run well in her four
previous starts on all-weather tracks. MODEL (Giant’s Causeway) probably needs
an easier spot to be effective.