Spinster

Sunday’s $500,000 Spinster S. (G1) may not be as strong as recent editions of
the nine-furlong test, but a well-matched field of 11 distaffers will square off
in Keeneland’s showcase event. There is plenty of speed present and the Spinster
might set up for a slight upset.

HALORY LEIGH (Halory Hunter) is poorly drawn in the far outside post (11),
but jockey Craig Perret figures to drop in behind rivals in order to save ground
into the far turn and the chestnut may not suffer too wide of a trip. She exits
a solid third-place finish against better rivals in the Ruffian H. (G1), making
up ground nicely through the stretch to earn a 104 BRIS Late Pace rating, and is
one for one at 1 1/8 miles for conditioner Dale Romans. Halory Leigh didn’t make
her 2005 bow until the Gardenia H. (G3) in late August, finishing a good second,
and this will be her third start off the layoff. She appears to be on the
upswing for her connections and owns a nice win over the track last October.
We’ll give her a slight edge.

ISOLA PIU BELLA (Chi) (Rich Man’s Gold) is a dangerous late runner who could
prove impossible to deny. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old will be
making her first start since finishing eighth in the Delaware H. (G2) in
mid-July, but the bay mare runs well fresh and displayed terrific form earlier
in the season, recording sharp wins in both the Sabin H. (G3) and Sixty Sails H.
(G3). She’s earned top BRIS Speed and Late Pace numbers and appears to be
training well. Isola Piu Bella looks like a deserving favorite.

CAPESIDE LADY (Cape Town) runs uncoupled for Pletcher and will be prominent
on the front end from the outset. She recorded impressive back-to-back wins at
Monmouth Park prior to a sixth last time in the Ruffian, but the four-year-old
New York-bred didn’t break well and never settled into a comfortable trip. Chris
DeCarlo should establish a better running position here on or near the early
lead, and Capeside Lady could hang around a long way.

WINNING SEASON (Lemon Drop Kid) steps up but looms as a possible top three
candidate at long odds. The D. Wayne Lukas-conditioned sophomore enters on the
upswing, capturing a Turfway optional claiming/allowance event by seven lengths
last time, and we’ve seen the Hall of Fame conditioner’s three-year-olds improve
rapidly in a short period of time before. Winning Season owns Grade 1 experience
and might come running late for part. MISS FORTUNATE (Deputy Minister) closed
boldly to win the Turfway Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) last time, but she’s stepping up
in class on Sunday for trainer Bill Mott. The five-year-old mare has fared well
at the distance (5-2-1-1) and owns some appeal for the gimmicks with her Late
Pace figures, so we’ll have to use her on some tickets.

PLEASANT HOME (Seeking the Gold) looks like a dangerous late runner for
trainer Shug McGaughey and merits serious consideration for the bottom of the
exotics. We’re not convinced that this is the four-year-old’s best distance, but
she exits a fine second in the Ballerina S. (G1) and owns the Speed figures to
challenge here late. PAMPERED PRINCESS (Indian Charlie) will face some pressure
up front, but the Florida invader remains a threat if the track is favoring
speed. She exits a sharp stakes win at Calder and has won at the distance
before, so throw her out at your own risk.

BENDING STRINGS (American Chance) didn’t run well over the track in April and
may prefer a little less ground. The multiple Grade 2 winner has the class to
challenge, recording a second in the Go for Wand H. (G1) and a third in the
Ogden Phipps H. (G1) behind Ashado (Saint Ballado), and wouldn’t surprise us
with a top three finish, but we’ll let her beat us. TAMWEEL (Gulch) is last
year’s runner-up and attracts the services of Jerry Bailey off a close third in
a stakes at Philadelphia Park, but her form isn’t as sharp as it was entering
this event in 2004 and Tamweel faces a difficult pace scenario.

SANTA CANDIDA (Arg) (Espaciado) doesn’t look fast enough to make an impact.
GO GIRLFRIEND GO (Demidoff) is winless from 11 starts this year and isn’t
well-spotted here.