Top Flight – J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Nine fillies and mares will contest Friday’s Top Flight H. (G2), and SARA
LOUISE (Malibu Moon) looks difficult to beat at the Big A. Winner of the 2008
Pocahontas S. (G3) at the one-turn, one-mile trip, defeating eventual superstar
Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) that afternoon, the Godolphin-owned bay lass
didn’t make her three-year-old debut until late August of this year, winning the
six-furlong Victory Ride S. (G3) at Saratoga. She followed that effort with an
excellent second in the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom H. (G2), falling a head
short to last year’s champion female sprinter Indian Blessing, and exits a
respectable fourth in the seven-furlong Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1)
over the Pro-Ride.

The Saeed bin Suroor trainee will likely appreciate the return to dirt and
drop in class, and Sara Louise lays over these rivals with the 105 BRIS Speed
ratings that she earned in her first two starts this season. She can be placed
anywhere with her tactical speed, and Edgar Prado, who missed the Breeders’ Cup
mount, will return to the saddle.

SPRITELY (Touch Gold) is a threat to derail our top choice. A three-time
stakes heroine, the four-year-old has recorded respectable placings in the Go
for Wand H. (G1), Molly Pitcher S. (G2) and First Flight H. (G2) this season, and
the one-mile distance is a good fit for the Todd Pletcher charge. Her recent
BRIS Speed ratings (97 and 102) are strong, and she’ll likely be forwardly
placed from the start under John Velazquez. She figures to be in position to
challenge for it all turning for home.

WEATHERED (Key Contender) settled for runner-up honors behind Unbridled
Belle (Broken Vow) after setting the pace in the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3)
last time, and she looks more than capable of grabbing a share in this spot. The
four-year-old owns a very respectable mark over both the track (4-2-2-0) and
distance (5-2-1-2), and the Karl Grusmark runner will probably be setting the
pace on Friday. We’ll look for her to hold for a minor award.

Unraced since a second in the Acorn S. (G1), multiple Grade 2 winner
JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE (Dixie Union) will make her first start back under the
direction of new trainer Bill Mott. We liked her form earlier this season,
including a smart 3 3/4-length triumph in the Davona Dale S. (G2) that netted her a
105 BRIS Speed rating, but we’re tempted to give her a race and look for more at
Gulfstream this winter. However, the classy filly can’t be dismissed from
exotics consideration.

PORTE BONHEUR (Hennessy) is a hard-hitting chestnut that also merits respect
for the top three, but we would like her chances better over a little less
ground. CUVEE UNCORKED (Cuvee) could show speed in her graded debut, and the
once-beaten filly brings respectable 4-3-1-0 lifetime record into this event for
trainer Timothy Walthers. We have some class concerns in her first start past
seven furlongs, but we won’t be shocked to see the improving sophomore
outperform our expectations with a placing.

SKYLIGHTER (Sky Mesa) will run coupled with Sara Louise, but the Grade 2
vixen doesn’t look sharp enough presently for us to recommend her chances. WHAT
A PEAR (E Dubai) has shown solid form at the distance previously, but her recent
form is discouraging. GRANTED TIGER (Tiger Ridge) probably needs a much easier
spot to be effective.