Matriarch

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An overflow field of 15 has been entered to go a mile on the turf in
Hollywood Park’s $500,000 Matriarch S. (G1), but only 14 will be allowed to
start on Sunday. POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) has finished worse than second only
once from her last nine turf starts, most recently scoring in the Athenia H.
(G3) at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott charge also owns a victory in the Beaugay H.
(G3) this season as well as game runner-up finishes in the Just a Game H.
(G2) and Noble Damsel Breeders’ Cup H. (G3). The dark bay filly’s BRIS Speed and
Late Pace ratings are on par with others in here, and the four-year-old has
experience winning at tracks up and down the East Coast. This is Pommes Frites’
first time on the West Coast, but the talented lass appears ready to add another
win to her record. Jose Santos has the return call.

THREE DEGREES (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) hasn’t scored since taking last year’s
Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) on Hollywood’s turf, but the gray four-year-old
has recorded placings in such prestigious events as the Yellow Ribbon S.
(G1) and Palomar Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). Her one attempt at a mile resulted in a
nose second in last year’s Senorita S. (G3) at Hollywood, and the
Paddy Gallagher trainee could come with enough of a late run to take this one
under Alex Solis.

CAMBIOCORSA (Avenue of Flags) won seven straight beginning last
November and continuing through a 1 1/4-length victory in the May 26 Wishing Well
S. at Hollywood. In three starts since then, the Doug O’Neill-conditioned
four-year-old finished fifth in the CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G3), captured the
Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3) and was third in the California Cup Distaff H. The
gray lass owns the numbers and the talent to take this one, so ignore at your
own peril. Jon Court will be in the saddle again.

CLINET (Ire) (Docksider) is a listed winner overseas and ran well in her U.S.
debut, just missing by a neck in the Las Palmas H. (G2) last out to
BEAUTYANDTHEBEAST (GB) (Machiavellian). The bay miss earned a nice 101 Late Pace
figure and could add some value to the gimmicks. ATTIMA (GB) (Zafonic) has
proven to be a tough front runner since coming stateside. The Julio Canani charge has already captured the San Clemente H. (G2) and Honeymoon
Breeders’ Cup, and was a close fifth last out in the Del Mar Oaks (G1).
She’ll be tough to run down if she gets away with an uncontested lead. Beautyandthebeast has won her last two, including the Las Palmas, and will
challenge for it all from off the pace.

MEA DOMINA (Dance Brightly) hasn’t quite returned to her 2005 form from three
starts this season, but did win the Palomar Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) two back. She
could hang around on the front end to earn a place in the top three. RIVER’S
PRAYER (Devon Lane) was a shock at 18-1 when taking the Cal Cup Distaff over Cambiocorsa
in her grass debut, and she could continue in that same vein
with a solid effort here. READY TO PLEASE (More Than Ready) was also
making her turf bow in her last race, finishing second in the Pebbles S. She
earned a nice 99 Speed rating and could continue to show more on the grass.
Consider for the bottom of the gimmicks.

MEMORETTE (Memo [Chi]) has tailed off a bit this season and might not be able
to keep up with these. SOCIETY HOSTESS (Seeking the Gold) has won four of five U.S. starts, but might find this field a bit tougher than what she’s been
used to facing. We’ll take a stand against. MIRABILIS (Lear Fan) hasn’t raced in
more than five months and might need one before taking on these. PRICE TAG (GB)
(Dansili [GB]) and DANZON (Royal Academy) will both be making their stateside bows,
and we’ll just watch to see how they take to their new surroundings.

Also-eligible SOHGOL (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) needs someone to withdraw for her to have a
chance in the starting gate. The Luis Seglin-trained four-year-old could show up
in the bottom of the gimmicks if she does draw in, but we don’t envision her
doing any better than that.