Schuylervillej

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Wednesday’s $100,000 Schuylerville S. (G3) is a dynamite opening-day feature
at the Spa stocked with promising two-year-old filly talent. Grade 3 winners
AEGEAN (Northern Afleet) and DECELERATOR (Dehere) are top draws, and some of the
last-out maiden special weight winners, including 4-1 morning-line choice HOT
DIXIE CHICK (Dixie Union), look capable of making a serious impact in their
stakes bow.

COWGIRL MALLY  (Gone West) exits a smashing debut score at Churchill
Downs on July 4, earning a 104 BRIS Speed rating for her one-length decision,
and we’ll take a stab at some value (10-1 morning line). We loved her turn of
foot last time, rallying from midpack to the lead with complete authority, and
she finished fast, registering a 102 BRIS Late Pace number. The stalker appeared
to have much more to offer in her upcoming starts, and we love the way she
returned to the worktab, posting a four-furlong bullet drill in :47 2/5 on
Friday. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Cowgirl Mally is well-drawn in post 3 and
picks up the services of New York’s leading rider Ramon Dominguez. The dark bay
lass will look to pounce upon the front runners.

BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) made quite an impression when debuting on June 5 at
Churchill, rolling to a two-length decision, and trainer Kenny McPeek decided to
freshen her for Saratoga afterward. He could be rewarded with a victory.
Beautician will be stalking the pace beneath Kent Desormeaux from post 10, and
the gray lass figures to be a serious presence turning for home if not too wide.
Precociously bred, Beautician recorded top-class BRIS Speed and Pace numbers
last time, and we think she’ll be a serious presence in juvenile filly stakes
ranks if she remains healthy. She could prove difficult to deny here.

Hot Dixie Chick is a threat to run her rivals into the ground from the rail.
The innermost post is a potential drawback, as is the presence of some serious
speed to her outside, but we’re not oblivious to her potential: the Steve
Asmussen trainee could be really special. After missing by a half-length to
Decelerator in her career bow over a sloppy track, the dark bay recorded an
outstanding performance over a fast track at Churchill on June 13, drilling
maiden special weight rivals by 5 3/4 lengths while setting a new five-furlong
track record of :56.48, and earned a whopping 110 BRIS
Speed rating for her effort. She’s been freshened 46 days off that effort and is
training up a storm in preparation for her stakes bow, posting a five-furlong
bullet work in 1:00 2/5 over the Oklahoma training track recently. If she breaks
well, Hot Dixie Chick will attempt to lead all the way under regular rider Robby
Albarado.

Aegean figures to sit a favorable trip, rating in midpack before launching an
assault on the far turn, and we have a ton of respect for the Wesley Ward
trainee. After crushing debut rivals on the front end at Keeneland, she asserted herself from just off the pace in the Debutante S. (G3),
surging to a neck decision, and she was flattered when runner-up Jealous Again
(Trippi) captured the Queen Mary S. (Eng-G2) next out at Royal Ascot and was
acquired by Godolphin. Aegean didn’t fire her best shot in England last time,
checking in ninth at low odds in the Albany S. (Eng-G3), but she’s trained
forwardly since returning to America at Monmouth Park. It will be no surprise to
see her return to the winner’s circle.

Decelerator deserves serious consideration for the top three. Trained by D.
Wayne Lukas, the bay miss is two-for-two overall and has shown her mettle each
time, gamely outfinishing well-regarded opponents in both victories. Julien Leparoux
will return to the saddle, and the dark bay lass figures to have a stiff early
pace run down. She’ll likely be picking off rivals in the stretch run.

SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) drew off to a 5 3/4-length romp when making her second
start over a good track at Churchill last time, registering excellent BRIS Speed
and Pace numbers, and there’s the possibility of some afternoon showers on the
opening program. The chestnut could enjoy clear sailing from post 8 under Miguel
Mena, and she’ll offer great value (15-1 on the morning line) for Dale Romans.
We’ll have to include her on the bottom of some exotics. VIVID COLORS (Roman
Ruler) will be winging it early for McPeek. She displayed a lot of early gas
when debuting in the slop at Churchill last time, leading wire to wire in a 5
3/4-length trouncing, and new rider Calvin Borel will be hustling her from the
break on Wednesday. She could have serious trouble lasting in this spot, but we
won’t be surprised to see the good-looking gray hold for a minor award.

FRANNY FREUD (Freud) posted a sharp score over open rivals at Belmont when
making her debut on May 21, winning by seven lengths, and she exits a second
over the Polytrack in the My Dear S. at Woodbine. Trained by John Terranova, the
New York-bred miss is no slouch, but she’ll have to move forward significantly
to threaten. KINSOLVING (Posse) exits a non-threatening third in the Debutante
and owns lower BRIS numbers. We can’t can’t recommend her chances.

THAT’S HOW I ROLL (Speightstown) deserves kudos for a solid three-length
maiden tally last time, but we’ll give her a start against winners. The same
goes for SO N SO (Freud), who easily handled New York-bred opponents when making
her career bow last out.

WILD WITHOUT WINE (Kela) managed to post a 10-length decision despite
stumbling at the start last time at Delaware Park, but she garnered only an 88
Speed rating. This looks like a learning experience. STORMANDAPRAYER
(Songandaprayer) is still a maiden and would be a big surprise in this deep
line-up.