Gamely J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A competitive group of 11 turf distaffers will contest the $250,000 Gamely S.
(G1) at Hollywood Park on Saturday. This deep contest can yield any number of
finishes, but we’ll side with recent Santa Barbara H. (G2) queen MAGICAL FANTASY
(Diesis [GB]). Trained by Paddy Gallagher, the four-year-old burst onto the
scene with an upset in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) last campaign and has done well to
prove that her win was no fluke. We love the fact that the chestnut is getting
into her races sooner as of late, rather than be a one-run closer, and her solid
fourth in the Matriarch S. (G1) over this strip last fall leads us to believe
that she can handle this ground. Alex Solis has the assignment.

DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) was a bit short when collared in the
Wilshire H. (G3) last out but should be much fitter for this under the tutelage
of James Cassidy. The Grade 2 queen is very fast early and ran huge to finish
second in this race last year, proving that she can handle nine furlongs. If the
five-year-old is ready for her best under David Flores, she’ll be tough to
upend.

TOQUE DE QUEDA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) finished a close third in the Santa
Barbara for Bobby Frankel but remains winless in three tries in North America.
We feel like this is the ideal trip for the bay five-year-old, but still prefer
others on the win end until she proves to us that she’s ready to break through
with a signature conquer. Victor Espinoza will pilot the obvious exotics player.

BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) closed well from last to just miss in
the Santa Barbara last out and rates an obvious chance against these for John
Sadler. The ultra-consistent bay has a huge late kick and will be coming late
under Joel Rosario, so a healthy pace would certainly aid the miss. We’ve long
argued that the bay needs 10 furlongs or more for her optimal trip, so we’ll
keep her off our win tickets while acknowledging that she is likely to finish in
the top three.

We’ve always liked LEMON CHIFFON (Lemon Drop Kid) and will give the
Kentucky-bred a chance at a Grade 1 placing for Sean McCarthy. The chestnut mare
finished a solid third in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G2) last out, and
although we don’t envision her outkicking the entire field, she should be able
to get nine panels over this course. The red-hot Mike Smith retains the mount.

VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) has been a disappointment in 2009 for Frankel,
and the filly has burned a lot of money with her uneven performances. The loss
of Garrett Gomez doesn’t seem like a positive for the dark bay and we’ll omit
her — unless she’s an unexpectedly big price.

The genuine FOXYSOX (GB) (Foxhound) usually runs well for Carla Gaines, and
we consider her a must-use in the lower rungs of the gimmicks. The six-year-old
had a wide trip in the Santa Barbara last out, so she can improve under Tyler
Baze.

TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) has won three of four since arriving
in the United States for conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer, and the speedster
should be rolling early from the rail. We love speed on this turf course, and
are also impressed by the fact that Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount, but nine
panels is a big question mark against this classy group.

BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) is a stone closer who would need a total
meltdown early and late to topple this group for Barry Abrams. The
California-bred always puts in a run, but we think she’s up against it among
these.

AINAMAA (Lemon Drop Kid) has finished a close fourth in each of her two
graded events for Ben Cecil, but she simply looks a cut below the best in this
field. The dark bay mare could be in the mix early, but we’ll take our chances
at leaving her off our tickets.

The Doug O’Neill-trained MODIFICATION (Vindication) outran her odds when
dead-heating for third in the recent Humana Distaff S. (G1) over the slop at
Churchill Downs. The hard-trying filly finished third in her lone turf outing,
however, and we can’t see her earning her first grassy win against this caliber.