AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| FALLS CITY H.
(G2), 11TH-CD, $150,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1 1/8M, 4:24 P.M. (EST), 11-26 |
|
| 1 |
BEST LASS, 3, f, by WerblinTejano’s Love, by Tejano O-Magdalena Racing; B-Diane Shashura (Pa) |
| 2 |
MORENA (PER), 5, m, by Privately HeldCharytin, by Summing O-El Catorce; B-Haras Gina Santa Rosa (Per) |
| 3 |
COPPER STATE, 5, m, by Jump StartOrrefor, by Our Native O-Vision Racing LLC; B-Asiel Stable (Il) |
| 4 |
SWIFT TEMPER, 5, m, by Giant’s CausewayGlasgow’s Gold, by Seeking the Gold O-Mark H Stanley; B-Richard Nip & Omar Trevino (Ky) |
| 5 |
UNBRIDLED BELLE, 6, m, by Broken Vow—Little Bold Belle, by Silver Buck O-Team Valor International; B-Charger Six Venture (Ky) |
| 6 |
SERENADING, 5, m, by A.P. IndyDaijin, by Deputy Minister O-John and Glen Sikura; B-Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm & N.E.T.P (Ky) |
Grade 1 vixens UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow) and SWIFT TEMPER (Giant’s
Causeway) headline the $150,000 Falls City H. (G2) at Churchill Downs on
Thanksgiving Day. We like the latter at a slightly better price.
Swift Temper had viable excuses in her last duo and rates a top threat in
here in spite of her zero-for-8 record at Churchill. Two back, she had to endure
the quirky Polytrack at Keeneland, and she ran much shorter than she wished in
the one-mile Chilukki S. (G2) last time under the Twin Spires. The Dale Romans
charge has elevated her game to new heights this campaign, taking the Ruffian H.
(G1) and the lucrative Delaware H. (G2) in 2009, and she earned BRIS Speed
ratings of 110 and 108, respectively, for those scores. With enough tactical
speed to be in range throughout and a cozy draw, the Kentucky-bred mare should
have no excuses under Alan Garcia.
Grade 1 star Unbridled Belle has a similar, if not slightly better, resume in
comparison with the top pick and rates a huge chance in her final career outing.
The high-quality mare is in tremendous form, recording a big triumph in the
Turnback the Alarm H. (G3) last out for Todd Pletcher, and she’s earned BRIS
Speed ratings as high as 110 this season. The dark bay can run from virtually
any spot on the track and fire big, so we’ll use her in everything with Ramon
Dominguez.
COPPER STATE (Jump Start) was recently snagged for $400,000 at Keeneland
November and will hope to give instant dividends to her new owners and trainer,
Ronny Werner. The consistent mare is nothing if not honest, and she was a big
second in the Chilukki S. (G2) to prepare for this stage. The Illinois-bred will
be guided by Robby Albarado.
SERENADING (A.P. Indy) has spent the vast majority of her career on
all-weather ovals and will try the dirt on this day for Josie Carroll. The
Canadian import has compiled a strong 17-7-5-2 lifetime mark and enters off of a
career-best 101 BRIS Speed number she earned when capturing the Maple Leaf S. at
Woodbine last out. The bay is a complete mystery, but it’s still difficult to
tab her for anything better than third against this solid group.
BEST LASS (Werblin) dominated her fellow sophomore fillies in the Prairie
Meadow Oaks earlier in this campaign and comes in off of a facile turf score for
conditioner Ken McPeek. The Keystone State-bred has ability and should be a big
presence in this race for some time on or near the lead from the rail, but we
can’t envision her running with the top pair in the stretch if they bring their
best. The chestnut still merits consideration for the exotics with Kent
Desormeaux. A distant third in the Personal Ensign (G1) in her most recent try,
Group 2 heroine MORENA (Per) (Privately Held) gives the impression of one who
covets a route of ground, but we have class concerns with her in this spot. The
Michael Matz-trained five-year-old has kept good company in three U.S. starts,
so we can’t dismiss her from top-three consideration with further improvement.