Beverly Hills J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The absence of divisional leader Tuscan Evening (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) from
Saturday’s Beverly Hills H. (G3) renders the 1 1/4-mile turf affair wide open,
from flag-fall to finish. Indeed, part of the handicapping conundrum involves
the pace scenario. It’s sure to be tepid at best, and it’s not perfectly clear
who will seize the early initiative at Hollywood Park. In the murky
circumstances, we’ll stick with the back class in PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry
[Ire]) and hope that she turns the corner third time out for Carl O’Callaghan.

Previously conditioned by Michael Matz, the Texas-bred improved over the
course of last season and eventually upset champion Forever Together (Belong to
Me) in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. Princess Haya next finished third
in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), best of the North American contingent, in her
only attempt at the Beverly Hills distance. She was later transferred to
O’Callaghan in Southern California, where she was expected to thrive on the firm
ground. After rallying for fifth in the one-mile Wilshire H. (G3) in her debut
for the barn, Princess Haya threw in a clunker in the Gamely S. (G1), winding up
a tailed-off last. She exited the race with a lung infection and has been
training sharply since her recovery, so we’ll give her a pass on that one and
look forward to a much improved performance. We like that she removes the
blinkers and gets the services of the up-and-coming Christian Santiago Reyes.

GENERAL CONSENSUS (Giant’s Causeway) has been chasing Tuscan Evening all
spring. Perhaps significantly, her best result was a runner-up effort in the
Santa Barbara H. (G2) at this 1 1/4-mile trip. General Consensus lay closer to
the pace in the Santa Barbara, and she just might go to the front for new rider
Rafael Bejarano. The Paddy Gallagher mare employed front-running tactics early
in 2009, so she’s capable of doing so if conditions warrant.

TURNING TOP (Ire) (Pivotal) is another who could theoretically take on the
pacesetting role, but since she’s stepping way up in distance for the first
time, she may not try to go wire-to-wire. Owned by Michael Tabor and trained by
Simon Callaghan, the four-year-old has compiled a three-race winning streak at
around a mile, capped by a hard-fought decision in the Redondo Beach S. Turning
Top has shown a fine late kick in each of her victories, and if she copes with
the added quarter-mile, she’ll be tough to fend off.

RESTLESS SOUL (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) is a bona fide long-distance specialist
who figures to move forward off a well-beaten third in the Santa Barbara.
Freshened since then, the six-year-old will be making her third start of the
season for Ben Cecil. Since her third start of 2009 resulted in a victory in the
Yerba Buena S., Restless Soul could be peaking at the moment and is a must-use
in the exotics.

Recent Golden Gate allowance/optional claiming winner CATSALOT (Momentum) is
facing a class test in this spot, but in her only previous race at the distance,
she turned in a strong runner-up performance in the California Cup Distance H.
last fall. For that reason, we wouldn’t be shocked if she sneaked into the
superfecta. Pinch-hitting for Tuscan Evening is her stablemate PRETTY KATHERINE
(Vindication), who comes off an allowance score over the course. The Jerry
Hollendorfer filly hasn’t factored in her recent stakes on the main track, and
it’s difficult to envision a major improvement on turf. LADY FRANCESCA (GB) (Montjeu
[Ire]) is still eligible for an entry-level allowance, and even if she moves up
at this distance, she’s got some way to go to threaten the likes of these.
PRINCESS TAYLOR (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) is a marathoner who is in poor form and
likely needs a lot longer distance to turn things around.