Vagrancy

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sunday’s $150,000 Vagrancy H. (G2) at Belmont Park marks the fourth meeting
this year between GAME FACE (Menifee) and ANY LIMIT (Limit Out). Game Face has a
2-1 edge over Any Limit having taken the First Lady S. (G3) and Inside
Information S. (G2), while Any Limit got the better of her rival in the
Hurricane Bertie S. (G3). Game Face will carry one pound more than Any
Limit, but we think the latter can even up this rivalry with a victory going 6
1/2 furlongs.

We like Any Limit’s 8-4-0-3 mark at Belmont — she loves the track. She was a
distant fourth in last year’s Vagrancy in her only unplaced finish over the
surface, but was nowhere close to peak form at the time. Unlike last year, she
enters fresh but with the proper winter seasoning underneath. She seemingly has
only one horse to beat for the lead, CAROLYN’S CAT (Forestry), and has proven
capable of turning in a sub :45 half-mile split. If she can shake loose from
that one, the closers, including Game Face, might find it difficult to wear her
down.

We’re not sure why Game Face faltered as the favorite in the Humana Distaff
(G1) at Churchill Downs last out, as the track condition was similar to that
which she won over in November at the same venue. Everyone is entitled to an off
day, however, and there have been few of those during the four-year-old’s
largely productive career. Her record speaks for itself, and we expect another
strong effort.

Carolyn’s Cat probably has the best chance of the remaining three fillies and
mares to pull off the upset. She’s raced twice this year and is rounding back
into her best form after being out of action for the better part of 11 months. She
captured the Cicada S. (G3) last year and was a distant second to the talented
Zaftig in the Nassau County S. (G3) over this track.

PORTE BONHEUR (Hennessy) will be making her first start since taking the
Ontario Fashion S. on November 2. Her claim to fame was an upset score over
Indyanne in the Victory Ride S. (G3) at Saratoga last summer, but we’re not
quite convinced she’s at the same class level as the top two at this time. We’ll
give her a race here. ARE WE DREAMIN (Yes It’s True) has never earned a
triple-digit BRIS Speed rating and appears out of her league after trailing in
both the Shuvee H. (G2) and Beaugay S. (G3) in her last two.