Test

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A tough pair of coupled entries lead a field of 10 sophomore fillies set to
contest Saturday’s Test S. (G1) at Saratoga. The seven-furlong event has a
talented cast, but we think we can beat the big guns with the John
Morrison-trained ACEY DEUCEY (Abaginone). The Prioress S. (G1) victress has
finished off the board only once this year, showing a 2005 mark of 6-4-1-0,
including wins in the Comely S. (G2) and Dearly Precious S. Unlike some of her
Test rivals, the bay is a confirmed sprinter, and her closing kick could
surprise all on Saturday. Regular rider Diane Nelson has the mount.

SENSE OF STYLE (Thunder Gulch) will run coupled with MADDALENA (Good and
Tough) for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The former, conditioned by
Patrick Biancone, finished third to our top selection last time in the Prioress
and showed an affinity for Saratoga at two. She broke her maiden at the Saratoga
Springs, New York, oval at first asking and returned to annex the Spinaway S.
(G2) in her next start. A Grade 1 winner, Sense of Style could prove tough to
deny under Edgar Prado, but we’ll just use her underneath Acey Deucey in the
gimmicks. 

Of the two Nick Zito-trained fillies, IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile) appears to
have a better chance in the Test. The chestnut is a winner at the distance,
annexing the Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland earlier this year. She shortens up
here and is a good use to round out the exotics.

Maddalena was only a half-length short in the Prioress and has the red-hot
trainer/jockey combination of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez. The chestnut has
flourished at shorter distances, but also over off tracks. We’ll use her in the
lower levels of the gimmicks.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, LADY PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) rates our longshot
special. Fifth in the nine-furlong Mother Goose S. (G1) last time, we think
she’ll enjoy the shortening in distance and will have her in the exotic plays.

LEAVE ME ALONE (Bold Badgett) ran a huge BRIS Speed rating of 106 last time
when victorious in the Azalea Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) but may still be a class
below these and we’ll have to go against. HIDE AND CHIC (Seeking the Gold), the
other half of the Zito entry, has had success against stakes rivals in Florida
but we’ll watch her first try against Grade 1 opponents here.

POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) would be a
surprise in this spot. ASPEN TREE (Holy Bull) has consistently run at the graded
level but has little to show for it. Heavenly Cause S. winner FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman)
enters in much the same way as Hide and Chic — outclassed.