Matchmaker

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

With Rutherienne (Pulpit) opting for Saturday’s Diana S. (G1), eight
distaffers are set for Sunday’s $200,000 Matchmaker S. (G3) at Monmouth Park.
CAPTAIN’S LOVER (SAf) (Captain Al) will be on or very close to the pace from the
start, and she rates a slight edge in the 1 1/8-mile turf affair.

A Group 1 winner in South Africa, Captain’s Lover was beaten four lengths in
fifth when making her U.S. debut in the Just a Game S. (G1) two starts back and
exits a decent third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth.
The five-year-old mare is eligible to keep improving in her third start
stateside for Todd Pletcher, and she’ll offer more value than likely favorite
ARIEGE (Doneraile Court), who is stuck in the far outside post. Captain’s Lover
looks well spotted for her first U.S. graded win.

Ariege will be no surprise in the winner’s circle. A Grade 1 winner
last season, the dark bay opened her four-year-old season with an allowance
score at Keeneland, but she didn’t turn in her best effort as the favorite in
the Eatontown H. (G3), pulling early and eventually finishing fourth. She’ll get
a new rider in Kent Desormeaux, and the Bobby Frankel trainee figures to be a
dangerous stalking presence throughout.

PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) steps up in class in good form, recording a
pair of wins and three seconds in her last five starts, and she could offer
value in the exotics (10-1 morning line). Trained by Michael Matz, the bay lass
rolled to a 3 1/4-length allowance win when making her Monmouth turf debut last
time, registering a 100 BRIS Late Pace rating, and she’ll be able to save ground
from her rail post with jockey Pascacio Lopez.

AMERICAN BORDER (Boundary), who was claimed for $30,000 last summer, rallied
to a head decision in the Miss Liberty and likes the course, compiling a 6-3-0-2
local mark. She appears to be doing well presently for Jason Servis and deserves
serious consideration for the top three. CLOSEOUT (Repriced) is another top
three contender, especially if the turf is anything less than firm. A
three-length scorer in the Locust Grove H. (G3) over yielding ground last time,
the Tom Proctor filly captured the Pucker Up S. (G3) on soft turf last fall. She may
not be as good on firm turf, but the four-year-old filly will be making her
third start off the layoff on Sunday and figures to sit a good stalking trip
under Robby Albarado.

SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer) is a solid late runner, posting triple-digit BRIS
Late Pace ratings in her last four starts, but she’s unplaced in three previous
attempts at nine furlongs and hasn’t looked sharp in her two most recent starts.
MEADOW SAFFRON (Military) figures to show the way from post 2 off her front-running
stakes score at Indiana Downs, but the Fred Seitz trainee will have to stretch
out an extra eighth of a mile. Her form is improving, with two commendable
efforts following a freshening, but we have our doubts at the distance. THEM
THERE EYES (Holy Bull) probably needs an easier spot to be effective.