Miesque

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

HUCKING HOT (GB) (Desert Prince [Ire]) rates top billing in Saturday’s $100,000 Miesque
S. (G3) at Hollywood Park. In her first start stateside, the bay overcame a bad
start to win the one-mile Hidden Light S. going away at Santa Anita. She’ll make
her graded debut for Paddy Gallagher in this one-mile event, and we’ll look for her to make it two
in a row in the United States.

SUPER FREAKY (Smart Strike), a $140,000 yearling purchase, finished third
when making her career debut on dirt two starts back and switched to the grass
to break her maiden in game fashion at Oak Tree. Trained by Doug O’Neill, the
dark bay gets the services of Pat Valenzuela and will likely show speed from the
start. The promising lass is certainly eligible to keep improving with a second
straight win.

SPENDITALLBABY (Unusual Heat) is obviously a top contender, but she’s
recorded runner-up finishes in three of her last four attempts, twice as the
favorite. The Barry Abrams pupil doesn’t own the best BRIS numbers, but she’s
shown enough at this level to challenge for it all.

FOXY GAMES (GB) (Foxhound) didn’t draw the best post (11) for her U.S. bow,
but she’s proven very honest in England, posting a 1-3-1 mark in her last six
outings. Trainer Ben Cecil knows how to get European imports ready, and we
wouldn’t be surprised to see Foxy Games earn a top-three placing.

MYSTIC SOUL (Bahri) would probably rate a higher chance if not saddled with
the far outside gate. A $75,000 claim from her career debut, a 3 1/2-length win
going a mile on the turf at Belmont Park, the bay filly just missed when closing
for second in the Miss Grillo S. last time. We’re going to try to beat her in
her first start in California, but trainer Jeff Mullins does well with new
runners and Mystic Soul looks dangerous. BRUSHED GOLD (Touch Gold) will be
making her California debut. The Todd Pletcher trainee hasn’t been a serious
factor in her two previous stakes attempts, but she’s one for one at the
distance and owns valuable stakes experience. We can’t dismiss her from exotics
consideration.

ONIDA (Ire) (Noverre) broke her maiden two starts back in England and gained
valuable experience against Group 2 rivals last time. Trainer Carla Gaines
usually does well with runners making their first U.S. start, and Onida could be
a factor while stretching out in ground. MISS JOSIEY WALES (GB) (Val Royal
[Fr]), who races uncoupled with Mystic Soul, will make her first appearance in
America under the direction of Mullins. She exits a clear win in Ireland, but
the bay miss shows three uninspiring works in preparation for this start. We’ll
just watch. PASSIFIED (GB) (Compton Place) might need a race in the United
States before proving effective at this level.

DOWN THE WELL (Ire) (Mujadil) probably lost all chance in the Hidden Light
when her saddle slipped, but we’ll have to let her beat us in her second U.S.
start. VALBENNY (Ire) (Val Royal [Fr]), an uncoupled Gallagher runner, exits a
maiden score at Ayr in Scotland. She defeated only four rivals in that race, and
we’ll give her a race in America. KIMMY POTTER (Broken Vow) has never raced on
turf and doesn’t own the most encouraging pedigree for the surface switch.
She’ll be making her 11th start of the year and must overcome an outside post
(9).