Personal Ensign J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Trainer Todd Pletcher has three of the eight entrants in the $400,000
Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga on Sunday, and we think Pletcher will get it
done with the talented UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow). The Grade 1 queen has run a
pair of nice races to prepare for this, taking the Obeah S. (G3) and finishing a
useful third in the Delaware H. (G2). We love the mare at a route of ground and
like her inside draw. She was third in this race last year following a wide trip
and second in 2007 with a rough beginning, so a clean break and ground-saving
trip might do the trick beneath John Velazquez.

Delaware H. (G2) runner-up ICON PROJECT (Empire Maker) is bred to be a great
one and is taking baby steps toward earning that praise for Marty Wolfson. The
blue-blooded four-year-old was transferred to the main oval after a competing on
the green for her first eight starts, and the transition couldn’t have been much
smoother, as she’s registered BRIS Speed numbers of 106 on each occasion. The
bay had nothing to run at late in the Delaware H. due to a moderate early tempo,
finishing second, but should receive a swifter pace on this day, which should
set up her late run. No major knocks on this one, other than the probability of
her going off as an overbet favorite.

Next Move S. (G3) star WEATHERED (Key Contender) was not a late factor in the
Go for Wand (G1) when making her Saratoga debut last time for Karl Grusmark, but
the filly could possibly hang on for a minor share here if she dictates a slow
pace on the lead Sunday. The thinking here is that the chestnut New York-bred
will gun early and see how long she can stay, and while 10 panels over this oval
is a grueling task, she might be there for a long while. Mike Luzzi has the
call.

SEA CHANTER (War Chant), another Pletcher trainee, has surprised us with her
dirt form after spending most of her lifetime on the lawn. The Grade 1-placed
stakes heroine finished third in both the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) and Shuvee H.
(G2) this summer and is bred to run a long way. If she saves ground from the
rail, she should parlay that into a top-four finish under Javier Castellano.
She’s expected to scratch in favor of Monday’s Mollie Wilmot S. at Saratoga, but
we’ll include her in our exotics if her connections elect to remain in this
spot.

SWIFT TEMPER (Giant’s Causeway) put her foes to sleep in a fine showing to
take the Delaware H. for Dale Romans, and the improving lass should not be
overlooked in this affair. The chestnut mare should have some company on the
front and might have a hard time duplicating her career-best performance last
time, but she’s proven adept at rating this campaign and should be able to get 1
1/4 miles under Alan Garcia. Three-time Grade 2 vixen MISS ISELLA (Silver Charm)
ran a bang-up race to be second in the Go For Wand for Ian Wilkes, and the gray
filly is sure to take a lot of action at he windows. We wouldn’t be surprised if
the four-year-old were to step up and make a big challenge for the win at this
10-furlong distance, but Wilkes indicated that she disliked this oval last time,
and not many runners win Grade 1 races on ovals they don’t feel comfortable
upon. Calvin Borel retains the mount.

MORENA (Per) (Privately Held) has put in a pair of decent showing since
arriving in the United States for conditioner Michael Matz, but she doesn’t
appear to be ready to bag a Grade 1 win against these foes. The well-bred WITH
FLYING COLORS (A.P. Indy) is bred to be a standout and will make her debut for
Pletcher, but an outside draw and a deep field to her inside makes her virtually
unplayable to us.