Frances A. Genter J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $100,000 Frances A. Genter S. (G3) proved popular at the entry
box, with 16 sophomore fillies attempting to line up in the 7 1/2-furlong turf
test at Calder. A maximum of 12 will start, relegating four to the also-eligible
list. Although several can put forward strong claims, J’RAY (Distant View)
appears to be the class of the field. The chestnut compiled a four-race winning
streak for Todd Pletcher about this time last year, capped by a decisive tally
in the Tropical Park Oaks over this course on New Year’s Day. J’ray then endured
a rough-trip third to the highly regarded Lady of Venice (Fr) (Loup Solitaire)
in the Appalachian S. at Keeneland in April and was shelved until October.

After returning to finish a creditable sixth in the off-the-turf Valley View
S. (G3) at the Lexington, Kentucky, oval, she showed marked improvement next out
in the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Despite being hung out 10 wide,
she just missed by a neck while recording a 113 BRIS Late Pace rating. J’ray
will be making her third start off the layoff in this spot for Pletcher’s
assistant, Tony Sciametta Jr., who is overseeing the Florida string while his
captain serves a suspension. The distance may be a trifle short for her, but she
will come rolling late off an expected quick pace and should get up in time
beneath John Velazquez.

AMANSARA (War Chant) is another come-from-behind type who boasts triple-digit
Late Pace figures. The George Weaver pupil is exiting a 5 1/4-length romp in the
Without Feathers S. at Meadowlands, and she has solid form lines. Amansara
overhauled subsequent Grade 3 winner Aunt Henny (Hennessy) in a Gulfstream Park
allowance in February, and reappeared in the Dynasty S. at Saratoga in August,
losing a photo-finish to eventual Valley View victress Meribel (Peaks and
Valleys). We think she’s much better than her subpar fifth in the Martha
Washington Breeders’ Cup S. implies, as she raced closer to the pace than usual
on that occasion. Eibar Coa returns to the saddle.

BAYOU’S LASSIE (Outflanker), the 3-1 favorite on the morning line, sports a
sterling 4-3-1-0 mark at Calder. A front-running winner of the Calder Oaks and
Judy’s Red Shoes S., the dark bay tackled older distaffers last time in the My
Charmer H. (G3) and was an honorable runner-up, grudgingly giving way to
multiple Grade 1 winner Amorama (Fr) (Sri Pekan). Bayou’s Lassie deserves
respect for that effort, but considering that she could become embroiled in a
pace battle, we’ll try to beat her. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that
the Stanley Gold trainee has not posted a work since before her last race on December
2.

Conditioner Christophe Clement will send out CAPTIVE MELODY (Unbridled’s
Song), who successfully raided Hollywood Park last out and came away with the
Cesario S. in her stakes debut. The well bred filly needs to show a bit more to
threaten here, but she is clearly on the upgrade and rates an attractive
longshot at 10-1. Another intriguing dark horse is SAOIRSE CAT (Storm Cat) from
the Bill Mott barn. Although the bay has been confined to turf sprints for most
of the year, she may prefer the added ground and is worth using in the exotics
at 12-1.

RASTA FARIAN (Holy Bull) could manage only fifth in both the Valley View and
Dynasty. Three starts back, however, she went down narrowly to subsequent Grade
1-placed Jade Queen (Giant’s Causeway) in a Saratoga allowance. The Michael Matz
filly figures to be involved in the early pace, but given her proficiency over
longer distances, she has enough stamina to hang on for a minor award. PEAK
MARIA’S WAY (Pyramid Peak), a two-time stakes winner on the main track at
Delaware Park, will be making her turf debut. The gray hasn’t been disgraced
when trying graded stakes company and may make her presence felt if she copes
with the surface switch. Her pedigree doesn’t scream grass, though, and she has
yet to record an official work on the turf. Note that she’s cross-entered to
Sunday’s $45,000 Lemhi Go S. over this same course and distance.

DANCING BAND (Dixieland Band), a stablemate of J’ray, looks a cut below some
of these and hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in a stakes at Louisiana Downs
in September. SCARLETT’S PRIDE (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]) doesn’t have particularly
strong European form and has recently been plying her trade on the Polytrack at
Woodbine. To accentuate the positive, the Reade Baker pupil has lured Edgar
Prado to ride.

SILVERSIDER (Wekiva Springs), GOOD INTENTIONS (Anet) and PROSPECT OF LOVE
(Suave Prospect) have all been defeated by others in here.

Of the four also-eligibles, the Allen Jerkens-trained MISS SHOP (Deputy
Minister) has the most appeal. She’s accomplished on the main track, with a
Grade 3 score versus elders and two Grade 1 placings on her resume, but she’s
also highly effective on the lawn. The last time she raced on the turf, she
rallied from well back to take the Castle Royale S. at Belmont Park in early
July over the useful Somethinaboutbetty (Forestry). If Miss Shop draws into the
field, she merits serious consideration for the top three.

Darley Stable’s CALLA LILY (Pulpit) was a non-threatening third in her stakes
debut in the Pebbles S. last time out. Calder-based MIA’S REFLECTION (Halo’s
Image) was well beaten by Bayou’s Lassie in the Calder Oaks. MOHEGAN SKY
(Straight Man) has chosen a tough spot for her first foray outside of New
York-bred company.