Golden Rod J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS

Seven juvenile fillies, including the top four finishers from the Pocahontas
S. (G3) earlier in the meet, will contest Saturday’s Golden Rod S. (G2) at
Churchill Downs. We were impressed by the effort of third-placer ALL DUE
RESPECT (Value Plus) last time, and will tab her for a minor upset in the 1
1/16-mile event.

Listed at 10-1 on the morning line, All Due Respect is still a maiden, but
she’s given a fine account of herself in all three starts. A close second in her
career bow versus maiden special weight rivals at Delaware Park, the Ronny
Werner pupil tackled stakes foes in her next outing and wound up offering a
solid bid for runner-up honors in the NATC Futurity at Monmouth Park. Stepping
up to face better company in the one-mile Pocahontas, the dark bay
surged to a one-length lead in upper stretch before settling for third, beaten
only two lengths by SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow). All Due Respect, who owns BRIS E2
ratings as high as 102, has posted two solid works since her last outing 27 days
ago and is well drawn in post 2 with Brian Hernandez Jr. She’ll be forwardly placed
from the start and merits serious respect for an upset with further improvement.

Sassy Image will look to save ground from her rail post and could prove
impossible to deny once again in the stretch. A 5 3/4-length maiden special
weight winner at Churchill in June, the Dale Romans filly finished second in the
Adirondack S. (G2) and fourth in the Spinaway S. (G1) at Saratoga. She didn’t
handle the Polytrack at Keeneland in the Alcibiades S. (G1), but the chestnut
rebounded in grand style in the Pocahontas, rallying clear in the final furlong.
Her 88 BRIS Speed rating last time was a little low, but she likes
Churchill and looks very formidable at this level.

Pocahontas runner-up DECELERATOR (Dehere) does her best running at Churchill.
She won her first two starts over the oval during the spring/summer meet,
including the Debutante S. (G3), and ended a dreadful skid of three straight
unplaced efforts last time. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained dark bay figures to sit a
favorable stalking trip with her tactical speed, and we won’t be surprised to
see her challenge for it all.

Romans will also send out QUIET TEMPER (Quiet American), who has offered a good run in all
three of her career starts in New York. Finishing second versus maiden special weight rivals
each time, the well-bred filly owns commendable BRIS Speed and Pace ratings.
With a recent four-furlong bullet work over the track, the maiden merits a long look for the top three.

UPPERLINE (Maria’s Mon) finished second to likely champion She Be Wild
(Offlee Wild) in the Top Flight S. at Arlington two back and exits a commendable
allowance tally at Keeneland. The Michael Stidham trainee could prove very tough
if she handles the transition to dirt on Saturday, but she’s bred to relish
turf/synthetic surfaces and won’t offer any value (5-2 morning line). We have
respect for the promising bay miss, but we’ll have to let her beat us.

VIVID COLORS (Roman Ruler) set the pace before faltering to fourth in the
Pocahontas and could show speed again here. The Kenny McPeek charge broke her
maiden in good fashion at Churchill this summer, winning by 5 3/4 lengths over
eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Tapitsfly (Tapit), but her
best effort since then came over the Polytrack at Keeneland. Her BRIS numbers
are still respectable, and we wouldn’t discourage using her in the exotics.
Philadelphia Park maiden winner CANADIAN STORM (Stormy Atlantic) exits a fourth
over the Polytrack at Keeneland and is facing a stiff class test in this spot.