Stage Door Betty

TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS

Saturday’s $100,000 Stage Door Betty H. (G3) will feature a contentious, full field of
14 distaffers, and we’ll go with the hot three-year-old filly SWEET REPENT
(Repent), who brings a three-race win streak into the 1 1/16-mile test. An easy
winner of the restricted Elmer Heubeck Distaff H. over track/trip last out, the
Florida-bred registered a 105 BRIS Speed and a 115 Late Pace rating last time,
improving her stellar local mark to 8-5-2-1 in the process. This will be her final
start at Calder before racing shifts to Gulfstream Park in early January, and
trainer David Braddy should have her ready for another top showing over her
favorite oval.

JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back) looks like the one to catch. A wire-to-wire
winner of the Nancy’s Glitter H. last time, the Marty Wolfson mare has posted
century-topping BRIS Speed figures in her last two starts and doesn’t have much
speed to her inside. Jockey Luis Saez will need to avoid a wide trip from post
11 on the likely favorite.

FLYING DIXIE (Dixieland Band) brings respectable BRIS numbers into her stakes
debut, and trainer Shug McGaughey figures to have the four-year-old miss ready
for the class hike. A winner in her last three dirt starts, she’s earned BRIS
Late Pace ratings of 104 and 101 in those efforts and owns the tactical speed to
be placed anywhere. Alan Garcia will retain the mount on the improving
Kentucky-bred, who we’d recommend including on multi-race wagers.

MORENA (Per) (Privately Held) merits respect off her runner-up in the Falls
City H. (G2). A Group 2 heroine in Peru, the five-year-old mare is winless in
four U.S. starts, but she’s never run a bad one for Graham Motion, placing in
two stakes prior to her strong showing last time. We like the cutback in
distance on Saturday, as well as her inside post, and give Morena a chance for a
minor upset. EVEN ROAD (Stephen Got Even) is an intriguing candidate for a minor
award. The former claimer will be tested for class at this level, but we like
her recent BRIS Speed ratings, with figures of 99, 98 and 96 in three of her
last four starts. Given her strong present form, we’ll include the five-year-old
mare in some gimmicks.

AURORA LIGHTS (Pulpit) will make her dirt debut for conditioner Eric
Coatrieux. Winner of the Selene S. (Can-G3) two starts back over Woodbine’s
Polytrack, the sophomore fully is bred to handle dirt and has run well over the distance (5-2-2-0). With her favorable rail draw, the stalker is
eligible to offer a fine rally from just off the pace. Consider for the exotics.
MISS SINGHSIX (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) turned in a solid showing last time,
registering a 101 BRIS Speed rating for her runner-up finish in the Nancy’s
Glitter, and the former synthetic/turf specialist is eligible to keep showing
more for Wolfson. We’re not thrilled with the outside draw (post 10), but the
four-year-old chestnut is another one to consider for the top three.

NICKSAPPEALINGLADY (Successful Appeal) would move up on a wet track and rain
is a possibility on Friday night. The dark bay probably isn’t fast enough to
make a factor under any conditions, but we can’t completely dismiss her chances
for part on an off track. AMAZING (Greatness) figures to add to the pace from
her outside post and is a four-time winner at Calder, but she’s unplaced in four
starts this season. We’ll go against her from post 12. KIDDARI (Smarty Jones)
exits a couple of encouraging efforts versus allowance rivals, but the sophomore
filly owns lower Speed numbers.

LOMAKI (A.P. Indy) looks better suited for the turf. SWEETSOUTHERNQUEEN
(Sweetsouthernsaint) is a nine-time winner at Calder, but we can’t endorse her
chances at this level. CAT CAN DO (Adcat) has dropped 21 straight starts since
her last victory in 2007. HOPEFUL IMAGE (Gulch) doesn’t appear to have much
chance against these rivals.