Go for Wand

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The Godolphin entry of SEVENTH STREET (Street Cry [Ire]) and COCOA BEACH
(Chi) (Doneraile Court) looms large in Sunday’s $300,000 Go for Wand H. (G1) at
Saratoga. While one could be leery of taking short odds on Cocoa Beach alone, in
light of her subpar reappearance, it’s tough to make a case against Seventh
Street, who deserves to be favored at 4-5 on the morning line.

Trained for her first six starts by Kiaran McLaughlin, Seventh Street has yet
to run a bad race. She brought a commanding three-race winning streak into her
stakes debut in the Barbara Fritchie H. (G2), where she reared at the start and
found herself a dozen lengths behind the early leader. Despite that horrible
beginning, she uncorked a terrific late kick to finish second, beaten a total of
1 3/4 lengths. Seventh Street made good in style next time out in the 1
1/16-mile Apple Blossom H. (G1), controlling the pace and drawing off to win by
5 3/4 lengths. In her recent debut for Saeed bin Suroor, the chestnut held the
lead in midstretch of the Ogden Phipps H. (G1), only to be reeled in late by the
streaking Seattle Smooth (Quiet American). With Seattle Smooth now sidelined,
Seventh Street shapes up as the filly to beat in the Go for Wand. She will be
stepping up to nine furlongs for the first time, but she wasn’t exactly stopping
in the Apple Blossom, and her sire is a source of stamina. Seventh Street
figures to show her usual tactical speed from the rail, and we think she’ll be
difficult to catch with regular rider Rajiv Maragh.

If Cocoa Beach hadn’t run a flat fourth in the Floral Park S. in her 2009
bow, we would have put her on top. The Godolphin mare was top-class last season,
defeating then-champion older mare Ginger Punch in the Beldame S. (G1) and a
great group in the Matriarch S. (G1) on turf. In between those efforts, she was
a commendable second to unbeaten dynamo Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the
Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1). Cocoa Beach is entitled to improve a lot
with the Floral Park under her belt, and she has already demonstrated her
affinity for the Spa with a five-length romp in the Love Sign S. last summer.
We’re not sure if she’s ready to win this in her second start off the shelf, but
we have too much respect for Cocoa Beach to leave her out of the equation.

The gutsy MISS ISELLA (Silver Charm) is at the top of her game at present.
The Ian Wilkes filly showed uncommon resolve to squeeze through along the rail
in her past two, resulting in battling victories in the Louisville Distaff (G2)
and Fleur de Lis H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Up to this point in her career,
however, Miss Isella has looked better beneath the Twin Spires than anywhere
else, and she was never in the hunt in the Sabin S. (G3) at Gulfstream earlier
this campaign. With Calvin Borel going to Monmouth to partner Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia
d’Oro) in the Haskell Invitational (G1), she picks up the services of Julien
Leparoux for the biggest test of her life.

SPRITELY (Touch Gold), who is cross-entered to Sunday’s Lady’s Secret S. at
Monmouth, has the early speed to challenge Seventh Street for the lead. The Todd
Pletcher filly has never won beyond 1 1/16 miles, though, and exits a near-miss
second in the seven-furlong First Flight H. (G2) at Belmont. If she runs at
Saratoga, Spritely could have the quality to hang on for a minor award, but we
can’t envision her beating this field, especially at this distance.

COLOR ME UP (Aptitude) is an inconsistent type who could factor in the
exotics with her best. Clobbered by Seventh Street in the Apple Blossom and
Ogden Phipps, the Wayne Lukas filly finished a strong second to Seattle Smooth
in the Shuvee H. (G2) three back. Color Me Up was most recently a distant second
to subsequent Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) winner Funny Moon (Malibu Moon)
in an allowance/optional claimer. She gets in with a feathery 113 pounds, and
judging by her pedigree, she is eligible to show more at this distance.

Like Spritely, the Steve Asmussen-trained LUNA VEGA (Malibu Moon) is also
cross-entered to the Lady’s Secret. Although she has won her past two in
allowance company by a combined 10 1/2 lengths, we’d prefer to give her a race
at this level. WEATHERED (Key Contender) was in good form over the inner track
at Aqueduct this winter, but has failed to make an impact when shortening up in
sprints. While the New York-bred promises to do better stepping back up in trip
here, she still looks up against it in this spot.