Distaff

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $150,000 Distaff H. (G2) attracted only six distaffers, but it
looks very contentious. ROYALE MICHELE (Elusive Quality) will enter on the
upswing for trainer Matthew Kintz, recording a sharp 1 3/4-length tally in the
Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) last out, and she figures to get a good set-up from off
the pace.

A maiden winner over Polytrack last September, Royale Michele made her dirt
debut in a $30,000 claiming event at Mountaineer Park in early November and won
by 15 1/2 lengths. She added a couple of more at Mountaineer, running her win
skein to three with a three-length score in the New Year’s Eve S. on December
30, and then traveled to Laurel Park for the seven-furlong Barbara Fritchie, her
first start past six furlongs. With a new jockey in the irons, the four-year-old
filly closed strongly off the pace to win impressively, registering a 113 BRIS
Late Pace rating, and she’s earned triple-digit BRIS Speed figures on two
occasions in her career. The improving filly has recorded two bullet works since
then, and she’ll pick up the services of Richard Migliore. We’ll look for them
to be along in time.

ZADA BELLE (Indian Charlie) rolled to a decisive 4 1/4-length victory when
making her inner track debut in the Interborough H. last out, and the
five-year-old mare looks dangerous in this spot with Ramon Dominguez. The
six-furlong specialist is very sharp presently, winning her last two outings
going away over stakes rivals, and the Darley colorbearer looks poised to earn
some graded wins this season. She figures to be up close tracking the speed from
her rail post, and Zada Belle merits serious respect.

SECRET GYPSY (Sea of Secrets) will make her inner track bow off a four-length
win in the Esplanade S. at Fair Grounds, and the Ronny Werner trainee is very
quick. She’ll be hustling from the get-go under Robby Albarado, but there is
some other speed entered. The four-year-old does own the best recent BRIS Speed
numbers (103 and 104 in her last two starts), but we don’t like the idea of
taking a short price on her (9-5 on morning line) given the other speed in the
line-up.

DISTORTED PASSION (Distorted Humor) likes the track (3-2-1-0) and distance
(6-3-2-1), but she doesn’t look fast enough to challenge for the win based on
Speed ratings. Listed at 10-1 on the morning line, she could offer some value
for the bottom of the exotics.

AWESOME ASHLEY (Unbridled’s Song) has been competitive with Distorted Passion, but she’ll face better in this spot. MOONSHINE ALICE
(Straight Man) will be winging it from the get-go, and the West Coast invader
will probably get some support since she hails from the Bobby Frankel barn. This
looks like a pretty severe class test, and the four-year-old filly doesn’t
figure to get a breather on the front end.