Turnback the Alarm

CAPESIDE LADY (Cape Town) heads a field of nine in Saturday’s $100,000
Turnback the Alarm H. (G3) at Aqueduct, and the Todd Pletcher trainee could lead
this one from gate to wire. The bay three-year-old has earned triple-digit BRIS
Speed ratings in her past three races, two of which were easy wins while the
last was a close runner-up finish, and will be tough to run down. However, we’re
going to try to do just that with the defending winner of this race, POCUS HOCUS
(Quiet American).

Trained by James Jerkens, Pocus Hocus surprised a nice field last year with a
5 1/4-length score in this nine-furlong test at 15-1. Though she’s earned only
one win since, the gray six-year-old has still been holding her own, most
recently running second in the Ruffian H. (G1) against the likes of Sightseek
(Distant View). Pocus Hocus earned a 99 Speed figure for that effort and loves
the 1 1/8-mile distance (8-2-3-1). She could spring another upset here with Jose
Santos returning to the saddle.

Capeside Lady appears the one to beat, but has yet to run at the distance or
over the track. Her chances improve exponentially if an off-track materializes,
as she’s taken four of five starts on surfaces ranging from good to sloppy.
Chris DeCarlo will be aboard Saturday.

NEVERMORE (Unbridled) moved up from the allowance ranks to finish a close
third in the Personal Ensign H. (G1) against champions Storm Flag Flying (Storm
Cat) and Azeri (Jade Hunter). She dropped back to this distance in the Beldame
S. (G1) in her last race, running fifth, but suffered a four wide trip
throughout. The H. James Bond charge owns a win over the track and could break
through here with a career-best run under Pablo Fragoso.

MISTY SIXES (Summer Squall) started off the year with three straight wins,
including two stakes victories, ran third in the Delaware H. (G2) in mid-July,
and most recently has been two heads and a neck back in second from her last
three races. Though she’s used to setting the pace, the Steve Klesaris-conditioned
bay mare also has the ability to rate in just behind the leaders and could
utilize that tactic here to threaten at the wire if our top two picks get in a
speed duel early on.

Both PERSONAL LEGEND (Awesome Again) and FORTUNATE DAMSEL (Runaway Groom)
have spent most of their careers on the turf. However, they both have also
proven themselves over the dirt. The former made her four-year-old bow a nice
runner-up finish in the El Encino S. (G2) in January, while Fortunate Damsel
came with a game late run to record a close second in an allowance in March.
Based on those performances, we can’t completely dismiss either filly’s chance
in the exotics.

ROAR EMOTION (Roar) tried to wire the Delaware H. (G2) two back, but was
caught at the end and finished second. She bounced badly last out in the
Personal Ensign after setting the early pace, only earning a 72 Speed rating,
and has been off for more than two months. We can’t recommend. FAST COOKIE
(Deputy Minister) captured the Cotillion H. (G2) last year, but has been
competing on the grass for much of this season. We’ll just watch for now.
CLOAKOF VAGUENESS (El Prado [Ire]) doesn’t look fast enough to challenge against
these.