Falls City

Thursday’s $300,000 Falls City H. (G2) drew a full field of 12 fillies and
mares and there is plenty of speed in the lineup. Spinster S. (G1) heroine
PAMPERED PRINCESS (Indian Charlie) does her best running on the front end and
will need to run early to save ground from post 9. INDIAN VALE (A.P. Indy), the
3-1 second choice on the morning line, is a confirmed front runner who exits a
sparkling 9 1/2-length romp in the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3). FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman)
is also very fast, dueling through an opening quarter of :21 4/5 in the
seven-furlong Raven Run S. (G2) last time before settling for second. Prior to
that, the sophomore miss reeled off wire-to-wire victories in the Indiana
Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3) and Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3).

All three classy distaffers remain top threats, but MISS FORTUNATE (Deputy
Minister) is our win pick. Trained by Bill Mott, the five-year-old mare finished
third in last year’s Falls City and ran well at Aqueduct over the winter,
winning the nine-furlong Rare Treat H. and placing in the Ladies H. (G3) and
Affectionately H. Freshened until late August, Miss Fortunate captured her
second start off the layoff, the Turfway Breeders’ Cup S. (G3), in impressive
fashion, closely determinedly from off the pace to win by a half-length. The
dark bay earned a 101 BRIS Speed rating and a 108 Late Pace number. She traveled
wide and was too far back to be much of a factor over a speed-favoring strip in
the Spinster next out and then offered a strong late run for third in the
Chilukki H. (G3) last time. The latter took place at the one-turn, one-mile
distance, and Miss Fortunate is much better at 1 1/8 miles around two turns.
She’s favorably drawn with an inside post and will have the table set for a
winning rally.

BENDING STRINGS (American Chance) enters off a sharp 4 1/2-length score in
the Chilukki and appears to be doing great presently for conditioner Wally
Dollase. The four-year-old is terribly drawn in the far outside post position,
but Bending Strings owns good tactical speed and may be able to overcome the
obstacle. She’ll be stalking the pace in midpack with jockey Mark Guidry and
figures to get first run on our top choice. Bending Strings is winless from
three previous attempts at the distance, but she could get to the front on
Saturday and never surrender.

Indian Vale stretched out to nine furlongs and captured her second career
start by 13 lengths, and the Todd Pletcher charge clearly appears to favor
longer distances. She didn’t run well when suffering her first career setback in
the Cotillion H. (G2) two starts back, but that proved to be a valuable learning
experience when the chestnut returned to crush her opposition in the Turnback the
Alarm. Indian Vale looks like the speed-of-the-speed and might not come back to
her rivals, but she did get away with a soft pace last time and won’t have that
opportunity here. We’ll try to beat her at short odds but will still use her in
the bottom of the exotics.

Flying Glitter owns an excellent mark of 4-3-1-0 over the track but has never
raced farther than 1 1/16 miles. The Ronny Werner trainee can sit just off the
pace and pounce, and Flying Glitter has been working well for this appearance.
We’re concerned about the distance and pace pressure, but a top three finish
won’t be a surprise.

Pampered Princess, who will be making her final career start, will be
difficult to deny if she runs back to her effort in the Spinster, but she missed
the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) due to a lung infection. Her BRIS numbers are excellent and the
five-year-old mare has never run a bad race at the distance (4-2-1-1), but she
could compromised by the other speed in the field and we’ll have to let her beat
us.

COTOPAXI (With Approval) will make her main track bow and may be
better at middle distances. However, the Dallas Stewart runner owns a strong
kick, earning century-topping Late Pace ratings in her last two starts, and the
four-year-old gray could grab part at long odds if she takes to the main track.
We’ll use her in our gimmicks. JOURNEY FEVER (Gold Fever) has class concerns at
this level but can finish. The Bob Holthus trainee ran a
decent fourth at 55-1 in the Chilukki H. (G2) last time and may appreciate the
added distance, so consider for part at a good price.

LA REASON (Labeeb [GB]) rolled by 6 1/2 lengths over allowance foes at
Keeneland last out and own four wins from 11 starts at Churchill. Nine furlongs
probably isn’t her best distance, but the five-year-old has leading rider Rafael
Bejarano up and could produce a solid late run. RAHYS’ APPEAL (Rahy) tries open
company after competing mostly against New York-breds for trainer Thomas Bush. Her
recent form is promising, but we’ll watch to see how she fares outside of New
York.

JOINT ASPIRATION (GB) (Pivotal) has displayed some class on the turf, but she
drew a bad post for her main track debut. It might be best to give her a race
here. KRISTY BEETHOVEN (Kris S.) doesn’t look fast enough to challenge. WINNING
SEASON (Lemon Drop Kid) brings dull form into this event and probably needs an
easier spot to be effective.