Long Island

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Three European invaders are among the nine fillies and mares, including one
main-track only contestant, entered for Saturday’s $150,000 Long Island H. (G2)
at Aqueduct, and we’ll give ELEUSIS (Diesis [GB]) the call in her U.S. bow. The
classy three-year-old should relish both the expected soft conditions and
12-furlong distance on Saturday.

Eleusis overcame 12 rivals to win her last start, a stakes race in France,
and has captured five of six overall attempts, including her last four outings.
With only one start since early August, she should be fresh for a top showing
here under Jose Santos and owns the class to prevail.

ARVADA (GB) (Hernando [Fr]) is obviously a top threat for trainer Bobby
Frankel. A wire-to-wire winner of a division of the Glens Falls H. (G3) last out
at the Spa, the four-year-old miss shows a 2-2-0 mark from her last four U.S.
starts, falling only a head and a nose short in her two losses. She’s been
working steadily for this attempt and runs well fresh. Arvada also owns
formidable BRIS Late Pace figures. Look for her to be up close early and a
serious factor throughout.

SAVEDBYTHELIGHT (Saint Ballado) is at her best at marathon distances and
comes off a fine third-place showing in the other division of the Glens Falls.
Jockey Jerry Bailey takes over the reins for conditioner Richard Violette Jr.
and the dark bay filly must be respected. Lightly raced this year,
Savedbythelight appears to be rounding into top form and could challenge for it
all.

BRIVIESCA (GB) (Peintre Celebre) enters off a listed stakes win in France at
the distance and gets in light at 111 pounds. She hadn’t shown a lot in her
three starts prior to that, but her last effort is very encouraging and we’ll
use her in some gimmicks.

LITERACY (Diesis [GB]) placed third in the Dowager S. last time at Keeneland
and has run well in her last three starts. She can handle yielding conditions,
but the four-year-old will be tested at the distance. Consider for the bottom of
the exotics. Previously Italian-based NOBLE STELLA (Ger) (Monsun) will run
coupled with our top choice and is a two-time winner this season. She may
develop into a nice stakes performer in this country, but we’ll give her a race
at this level.

PRIMETIMEVALENTINE (Affirmed) is unplaced from two previous attempts over the
course and hasn’t shown enough this year to make us believe that she can
challenge here. BELLES LETTRES (Sky Classic) takes a big step up in class off an
entry-level allowance win. We’ll watch to see how she fares against stakes
rivals.

Main-track only runner BOUNDING CHARM (Boundary) is the win selection if the
race is moved to the dirt.