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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Seven fillies and mares will line up in Saturday's $150,000 Eatontown H. (G3) at Monmouth Park, and the classy KAREN'S CAPER (War Chant) appears primed to make a successful return to action in the grassy 1 1/16-mile test. The Stonerside Stable homebred began her career under the direction of John Gosden in England. Karen's Caper captured the 2005 Nell Gwyn S. (G3), finished a respectable fourth in the English One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1), and came up a mere nose short in the Coronation S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot. Making her U.S. debut later that year at Keeneland, the bay again lost on the head-bob in the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1). Karen's Caper moved to Bobby Frankel's barn in 2006 and enjoyed another profitable campaign, taking the Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup H. (G3) over POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) and finishing runner-up in the Ballston Spa H. (G2) and First Lady S. (G2). In the latter, she gave Gorella (Fr) all she could handle before succumbing in yet another heartbreaking photo-finish at Keeneland in October. Unraced since then, Karen's Caper has been training consistently in advance of her 2007 bow. She figures to enjoy a perfect stalking trip here beneath new rider Brice Blanc. Multiple Grade 3 queen Pommes Frites will likewise make her seasonal reappearance in this spot. The Bill Mott trainee was last seen finishing a terrific third in the Matriarch S. (G1) in November at Hollywood Park, striking the front before being caught late. In the aforementioned Noble Damsel, Pommes Frites couldn't hold off Karen's Caper, and with pace pressure on the cards at Monmouth, we think the speedy mare will end the exacta once again. ROSHANI (Fantastic Light) promises to be on or near the lead in her stakes debut for Todd Pletcher. The four-year-old boasts a three-race winning streak, most recently landing an allowance over the course. Roshani will get a real class check from our top two, but she could prove stubborn in the stretch with Chris DeCarlo. RAHYS' APPEAL (Rahy) has smart form on both dirt and turf, and she was runner-up in last year's Eatontown, which was transferred to the sloppy, sealed main track. A comprehensive winner of the Top Flight H. (G2) on the dirt last fall, she chased the brilliant Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid) when second in the grassy San Gorgonio H. (G2) in January. Rahys' Appeal hasn't run up to that level in her past two, however, and may be feeling the effects of a rigorous campaign for the past year without a real break. REDASPEN (Bianconi) is coming off a score in the Politely S. over the Monmouth lawn, but this is a tougher assignment. PROP ME UP (Reparations) has been beaten by several others in this field. ROYAL PLEASURE (Royal Academy), a troubled fourth in the Politely in her latest, would need to step up her game to earn a check here.
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