Distaff H.

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

VALENTINE DANCER (In Excess [Ire]), one of a field of 12 fillies and mares set to run in
Monday’s grassy Distaff H. (G3) at Lone Star Park, has not missed the board this
year, finishing second in her seasonal bow, the Paseana H., before returning to
the grass two weeks later to successfully defend her title in the Sunshine
Millions Filly & Mare Turf S. Trainer Craig Lewis then gave his charge a
two-month break and brought her back in the March 20 Santa Ana H. (G2), where
she finished third before taking the Fran’s Valentine S. last out. The bay
appears in career-best form for this contest and easily rates our top selection.
Jon Court has the call.

Steve Asmussen has a pair of Chilean-bred milers, both recently acquired from
the barn of Ron McAnally, and the first half of the entry looks like a nice
selection at 9-2 on the morning line. Last out, PAZ CIUDADANA (Chi) (Golden
Voyager) annexed the one-mile Honeymoon S. over the Louisiana Downs grass. Prior
to that one, the five-year-old suffered a rough trip in the Irving Distaff S.
over the Lone Star turf after having previously taken her first start for her
new trainer, again going the Distaff distance and surface in a Fair Grounds
optional claimer. From seven starts at the eight-furlong distance, the bay owns
four wins, and could be tough to deny in this spot.

KATDOGAWN (GB) (Bahhare) is easily the class of the field but has not visited
the winner’s circle since March of last year, when she was placed first through
disqualification in the Santa Ana H. (G2). The Wally Dollase trainee still rates
a serious threat under Jerry Bailey, but we’ll try and beat her with our top
two.

Definitely a horse for the course, MY MISTY PRINCESS (Acceptable) was third
in the Irving two back before taking a Lone Star allowance last out and shows a
mark of 10-3-3-1 over the Grand Prairie, Texas, turf. Based on the dark bay’s
record here, we’ll have to use her in the exotics.

QUEENA CORRINA (Here We Come) is a stakes winner at Lone Star, but may be a
level below these. The six-year-old chestnut has not missed the board in seven
starts in Grand Prairie and is a must use for the gimmicks.

VOZ DE COLEGIALA (Chi) (Sayaret) may be the weaker of the Asmussen entries
having finished third in her only outing under his tutelage, an allowance run
over the Lone Star turf. McAnally thought enough of the six-year-old to run her
in last year’s Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), but she may be outmatched for the win in
this spot, and we’ll limit her usage to the bottom of the gimmicks.

TARA’S TOUCH (SAf) (Tara’s Halls) rates our longshot special for trainer
Niall O’Callaghan as the six-year-old closed impressively last out to take the
Stravinsky S. at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length, recording a BRIS Speed
rating of 101 in only her third U.S. start. Your call.

MARWOOD (Marlin) finished second by a neck to our top choice in the Sunshine
Millions and may be a level below these. We’ll give the Stephen Margolis trainee
a race. Jose Gonzalez will saddle BLUE SONG (Sultry Song) for the Distaff off
three straight wins, the last two coming against stakes company. Unfortunately,
the four-year-old has not seen the turf since September of last year, when she
finished 10th, beaten 11 1/2 lengths. Despite her current form, we’ll let her
beat us as she returns to the sod.

BONNIE J. (Arab Speaker) may be ambitiously placed as the chestnut has yet to
win a stakes race. We’ll watch for now. If JANEIAN (NZ) (The Jogger) can return
to her 2004 form, she could run away with it all, but we’ll need to see more
from her before we can endorse her chances.

YOURSMINEOURS (Belong to Me) has had more success on the dirt and we’ll let
the four-year-old get another grass start in this one.