The Very One

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A full field of 14 turf distaffers is set to travel 1 3/8 miles in the
$100,000 The Very One S. (G3), and we’ll give LONG APPROACH (Broad Brush) a
slight edge in the contentious event. Trained by Jonathon Sheppard, the
six-year-old mare hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since winning three
straight races at Delaware Park in 2007, but she’s been close on several
occasions, recording a runner-up finish in the La Prevoyante H. (G2) last season.

Long Approach ran well last time when opening her 2010 campaign in the
February 6 Suwannee River S. (G3), finishing fifth by only 1 1/2 lengths after
altering course in the stretch, and netted a 105 BRIS Late Pace rating. We love
the fact that Sheppard wheels her right back off a three-week rest, and the
Pennsylvania-bred is well-drawn in post 4 with Julien Leparoux. The stalker has
a good shot to return to the winner’s circle on Saturday.

CHANGING SKIES (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), a French Group 3 runner-up, turned in
a couple of solid efforts in the United States last fall and will return to the
races off a four-month freshening on Saturday. Trainer Bill Mott excels with
layoff horses and distance shouldn’t be a problem given her European form, and
we give the five-year-old mare a chance at an upset (15-1 morning line). She
netted terrific BRIS Late Pace ratings last fall (108 and 106) and doesn’t face
the stiffest competition here.

BELLE ALLURE (Ire) (Numerous) merits respect in her second start of the
season for Christophe Clement. Winner of the Athenia S. (G3) in her 2009 finale,
the French Group 3 winner never offered a serious challenge when trying the
Gulfstream turf in the Marshua’s River S. last out, but she was beaten only
three lengths that afternoon. The five-year-old mare earned commendable top BRIS
Speed and Late Pace numbers last year, and she’s eligible to show much more off
the tightener.

CABLE (Dynaformer) is another contender from the Clement stable. The gray
mare has displayed a fine finishing kick in her last three starts, registering a
111 BRIS Late Pace rating for her fast-closing second in the Suwannee River most
recently, and she’s bred to handle the added ground here. The 11-furlong distance
remains a bit of a concern for the lightly-raced five-year-old, but it will be
no surprise to see her challenge for it all.

KIAWAH CAT (Lemon Drop Kid) also merits consideration for the exotics. We’re
not convinced that this is her best distance, but Mott gave her a tune-up last
time in a 1 7/16-mile allowance/optional claiming event and the four-year-old
filly missed by only a nose in second. She’ll get a new rider in Corey Nakatani
and will look to make an impact from just off the pace. LADY SHAKESPEARE
(Theatrical [Ire]) didn’t receive the best post (14) and has been scratched from
two recent races by trainer Roger Attfield. The stakes-winning filly exits a
close second in the Marshua’s River, missing by only a head, and has the
breeding to handle the trip, so we’ll probably include her on the bottom of a
couple of tickets.

Brazilian Horse of the Year CELTIC PRINCESS (Brz) (Public Purse) opened her
U.S. racing career with a second in the My Charmer S. on Polytrack two starts
back and experienced trouble prior to finishing fifth in a turf
allowance/optional claiming over the course last time. She’s eligible to run
better for trainer Eduardo Caramori, but we’re not ready to endorse her chances
on the stretch-out versus graded rivals. CLOSEOUT (Repriced) will look to come
running late under Edgar Prado. The Tom Proctor mare shows some respectable
efforts over the past two seasons, but she finished a one-paced fourth in the
Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita last time and has never raced
over the turf at Gulfstream. We’re not convinced that she’s sharp enough to
challenge.

MORENA (Per) (Privately Held) is a long-winded sort who will be trying the
turf for the first time for Michael Matz. The six-year-old mare turned in some
respectable efforts last season, placing in both the Personal Ensign (G1) and
Falls City H. (G2), but we’ll give her a race on the sod. IN MY GLORY (Honour
and Glory) will show speed from the start, but she’s never raced farther than
nine furlongs and is zero-for-four at the 1 1/8-mile distance. We’ll let the
front runner beat us. ZASKAR (GB) (Anabaa) has showed speed in her last four
starts but could revert to stalking tactics in this spot for John Terranova.
She’s run poorly in all four U.S. starts versus graded rivals and doesn’t show a
tightener for this effort after winding up 2009 on a bad note.

Recent allowance winner RCUANDRY (A.P. Indy) will need to draw into the field
from the also-eligibles list, and we’re willing to give her a start against
stakes rivals from an extreme outside post. MYSTIC MIRACLE (Unbridled’s Song),
NEHANTIC CAT (Tomorrows Cat) and PROUD LISA (Proud Citizen) don’t appear fast
enough to contend.

JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back) is entered for the main-track only and loves a
wet track (15-8-1-1).