Ouija Board

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

RUSTIC FLAME (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) has been performing honorably against
steep competition, so we’ll side with the Eddie Kenneally trainee as she faces a
slightly easier group in Monday’s $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3) on the
turf at Lone Star Park. The five-year-old is currently in the form of her life.
After rallying for runner-up honors in the Honey Fox S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park,
she finished fourth to champion Forever Together (Belong to Me) in the Jenny
Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland, and filled that same spot after a wide trip in the
Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2). In her past two, Rustic Flame has beaten such
notables as Backseat Rhythm (El Corredor) and Visit (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]).
Robby Albarado picks up the mount on the stalker, who will enjoy a ground-saving
trip from the rail post.

FLIBBERJIBIT (Arch) owns an allowance/optional claiming victory over our top
pick at this one-mile trip three back. She could not duplicate that effort when
settling for third in the Honey Fox, three-quarters of a length back of Rustic
Flame. Flibberjibit turned in a stronger effort next time out, though, when
chasing the track record-setting Raw Silk (Malibu Moon) in the South Beach S. at
Gulfstream, with subsequent Gallorette H. (G3) near-misser All Is Vanity (Fr)
(Gold Away [Ire]) in third. Flibberjibit should get first run on Rustic Flame
here, and the Marty Wolfson mare may prove tough to run down with Julien
Leparoux.

SUPERIOR STORM (Stormy Atlantic), who beat champion Proud Spell two back and
most recently finished second to the highly regarded Seventh Street (Street Cry
[Ire]) in the Apple Blossom H. (G1), will make her turf debut in this spot. The
Ronald Jackson filly is as consistent as they come, having compiled an admirable
17-11-3-1 mark on dirt, and her pedigree suggests that she’ll transfer her
ability to the grass. We would rather see her run on the surface before giving
an unqualified endorsement, but she’s still a must-use in the exotics.

SWEETER STILL (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) has not raced since capturing
the Sandy Blue H. at Del Mar in August. Trained by Ral Ayers while Jeff Mullins
serves a suspension, she hails from a barn that knows how to get runners ready
off such lengthy layoffs. Sweeter Still merits respect as one of the top turf
fillies on the Southern California scene during her 2008 sophomore campaign, but
this is her first try against older rivals. While we think she’s good enough to
make her presence felt from just off the pace, she may be better with a race
under her belt.

HOTLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic) snapped a 10-race losing skid when recording a
wire-to-wire score in the local prep, the 7 1/2-furlong Irving Distaff S. The
Dallas Keen mare deserves credit for setting fast fractions and holding on well,
and she has since fired a pair of bullets in preparation for this. Hotlantic
could continue her razor-sharp form, but the extra ground here may not be to her
benefit, especially on the class hike. LOVE TO TELL (Stage Colony) is not the
most consistent sort, tending to alternate good efforts with lackluster ones. In
light of her non-threatening third to Hotlantic last out, she could run much
better Monday, but she’s still got something to prove at this level.

WASTED TEARS (Najran), a perfect three-for-three on the Lone Star turf,
nonetheless has serious class concerns in this spot. R CHARLIE’S ANGEL (Indian
Charlie) has held her own in this region on the dirt but has yet to hit the
board in her four previous turf outings.