TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
| ORCHID H.
(G2), 7TH-GP, $150,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1 1/2MT, 3:05 P.M. EST, 4-2 |
||||
| PP |
HORSE |
TRAINER |
JOCKEY |
WT |
| 1 |
HONEY RYDER |
PLETCHER TODD A |
VELAZQUEZ J R |
116 |
| 2 |
COQUINERIE |
GARCIA RODOLFO |
SANTOS J A |
112 |
| 3 |
STORMIN’ DAINA |
BAKER BRYAN R |
TEATOR P A |
113 |
| 4 |
SNOWDROPS (GB) |
CLEMENT CHRISTOPHE |
PRADO E S |
117 |
| 5 |
PRETTY JANE |
CARAMORI EDUARDO |
BLANC B |
114 |
| 6 |
ELLIEONTHEMARCH |
VIOLETTE RICHARD JR |
VELASQUEZ CORNE |
113 |
| 7 |
BRIVIESCA (GB) |
MOTT WILLIAM I |
BAILEY J D |
115 |
SNOWDROPS (GB) (Gulch) has shown steady improvement this year, taking the
Suwannee River H. (G3) two back at Gulfstream Park. On Saturday, the
five-year-old mare returns to the Gulfstream turf as she takes on six rivals in
the $150,000 Orchid H. (G2) as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. However, the
Christophe Clement trainee came out of the Suwannee River to finish fourth,
albeit by only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Hillsborough S. (G3). Based on that, we’ll
try to beat the classy gray with someone who might offer a better price.
BRIVIESCA (GB) (Peintre Celebre) made her U.S. debut last year at Aqueduct,
but returned under the tutelage of Bill Mott to just miss in an allowance on
Gulfstream’s green in early February. She returned a month later in The Very One
H. (G3) and, once again, lost a narrow decision. The chestnut miss earned a 105
BRIS Speed rating for that run as well as a 104 BRIS E2 Pace figure. She worked
a nice half-mile in :49 2/5 last Saturday to prepare for this one and will have
Jerry Bailey in the saddle. Briviesca could earn her first win stateside here in
style.
PRETTY JANE (Subordination) finished fourth in the Honey Fox H. (G3) last
out, but posted a 103 E2 Pace rating for that close effort. She’s proven her
liking for the green (8-3-1-0), with two of those wins coming on Gulfstream’s
course. We would like for the Eduardo Caramori-trained four-year-old to have
higher Speed numbers, but we don’t think that will hold the dark bay miss back.
She’ll challenge with Brice Blanc holding the reins.
HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) has spent her last four races either winning
or being no worse than 1 1/2 lengths back of the winner at the wire. The Todd
Pletcher trainee’s latest exploit came as a neck score in The Very One, where
she earned a 106 Speed figure, and she could take this one with a similar run.
John Velazquez has the call.
Snowdrops could easily come running late to add this one to her record. Don’t
forget her in the top three. ELLIEONTHEMARCH (Old Trieste) has done well since
switching to the turf late last summer, and even scored a victory in a grassy
Gulfstream allowance going the Orchid’s 1 1/2-mile distance. She could add some
value to the exotics.
COQUINERIE (Sahm) hasn’t been able to keep up when facing stakes company in
the past and we don’t think she’ll start here. STORMIN’ DAINA (Storm Creek)
doesn’t look ready for this class jump.
| TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS: | 1st-BRIVIESCA (GB) | |
| 2nd-PRETTY JANE | ||
| 3rd-HONEY RYDER |