Gamely J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A sensational field of eight will travel nine furlongs on the Hollywood Park
turf in Saturday’s $250,000 Gamely S. (G1), and champion FOREVER TOGETHER
(Belong to Me) looks to return to the winner’s circle following a four-race
losing skid for Jonathan Sheppard. A fine second in the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) last
time, the superb mare has never missed the board in her lifetime on the grass
and should love the expected firm turf in Inglewood, California. While many say
she may have lost a step, we don’t believe that is the case. She equaled a
career-best 104 BRIS Speed rating last time, as well as earning a 106 BRIS Late
Pace rating, and we expect to see a display of her immense class in here. Rajiv
Maragh deputizes for Julien Leparoux.

Multiple Grade 2 sensation TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) has
dominated California grass racing for Jerry Hollendorfer this winter/spring and
seems very deserving of a Grade 1 win. The bay has won 10 of 14, including four
in succession, and sports a smart 4-3-1-0 mark over this turf. It’s not easy
going against the bay, but only a champion gets top billing over this classy
mare.

CAT BY THE TALE (Tale of the Cat) has been a very consistent player for
trainer Neil Drysdale, finishing in the top three in nine of her last 10
outings, the last six in graded company. The tactical chestnut might get first
run on our top pick under Martin Garcia, but we can’t see her holding that one
off in the lane.

Rising star MEDAGLIA D’AMOUR (Medaglia d’Oro) made good in her stakes debut
when coming home a fairly easy winner of the Wilshire H. (G3) most recently for
conditioner Ben Cecil. The bargain yearling purchase is perfect on the lawn,
winning three races with relative ease, and she smoked a bullet half-mile in
advance of this. We’ll toss the dangerous four-year-old in our exotics.

Grade 2 heroine GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy) has proven herself as a high
quality sprinter/miler on the West Coast, but the six-year-old is being asked to
do a lot in dealing with this superb field. Trained by Janine Sahadi, the mare
is well drawn on the rail and loves Hollywood, but we think third is the best
she can do if the top ones show up. Dual Grade 1-placed WELL MONIED (Maria’s
Mon) had a nice comebacker in an allowance tally for conditioner Howard Zucker
and now must face two of the top turf distaffers in the country in her second
try of the season. The impressive gray has endured great success over this lawn
but could need a little more fitness before taking on the top pair.

Canadian S. (Can-G2) upsetter PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) adds blinkers
for this one coming off a seventh-place finish in the Wilshire last out for Carl
O’ Callahan. The bay mare ranks eighth in BRIS Prime Power (151.2) and earned a
lifetime-best 94 Speed figure last out. We’ll look elsewhere. Santa Barbara H.
(G2) runner-up GENERAL CONSENSUS (Giant’s Causeway) is improving for trainer
Paddy Gallagher but still looks to be a cut below the better ones in here.