Shirley Jones - Brisnet

Last updated: 2/18/05 7:48 PM

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

SHIRLEY JONES H. (G2), 10TH-GP, $150,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 7F, 5:26 P.M. EST, 2-19

PP	HORSE	TRAINER	JOCKEY	WT
1	MADCAP ESCAPADE	BROTHERS FRANK L	BAILEY J D	118
2	SOCIETY SELECTION	JERKENS H ALLEN	VELASQUEZ CORNE	120
3	EXPECT AN ANGEL	HALE ROBERT A	LOPEZ J E	111
4	SLEWS FINAL ANSWER	MOTT WILLIAM I	COA E M	114
5	D’ WILDCAT SPEED	WHITE WILLIAM P	CASTRO E	114
6	GIVEMEMORE (BRZ)	MCPEEK KENNETH G	CRUZ M R	114
7	ALIX M	SPATZ RONALD B	CASTELLANO J J	115

A terrific showdown between Grade 1 winners SOCIETY SELECTION (Coronado’s
Quest) and MADCAP ESCAPADE (Hennessy) will take place in Saturday’s
seven-furlong Shirley Jones H. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. No one can doubt the
class of Society Selection, who won the Test S. (G1) and Alabama S. (G1) at
Saratoga last summer, but she is probably at her best coming from off the pace,
and that is a hard thing to do at this meet. Therefore, Madcap Escapade, who has
not started since finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), rates our top
choice.

Madcap Escapade earned her last win in the Ashland
(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Madcap Escapade is an extremely fast filly who reeled off three straight
victories over this surface last season by a combined 26 1/2 lengths, including
a daylight romp at 1-5 in the seven-furlong Forward Gal S. (G2), before
defeating eventual Eclipse Award winner Ashado (Saint Ballado) in her first
start around two turns in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland. The
Frank Brothers-trained filly has recorded triple-digit BRIS Speed figures in all five
of her career starts and has been training impressively for her return. From the
rail post, she figures to go right to the front and prove difficult, if not
impossible, to catch under Jerry Bailey.

Society Selection made a sweeping move around the far turn and finished like
her tail was on fire to win the seven-furlong Test by a widening 6 1/4 lengths
in the mud. The bay four-year-old, who carries top weight of 120 pounds, would
benefit from an off track, but that is not in the forecast. She could also
benefit from an contested early pace if ALIX M (End Sweep) gets sent from the
outside, but that one will most likely want to settle into a stalking position.
Society Selection figures to be a factor at the wire and gets the nod for
runner-up honors.

Alix M, who has yet to finish off the board in 10 career starts, pressed fast
fractions before gamely winning the six-furlong Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare
Sprint by 3 1/2 lengths over the highly regarded Bear Fan (Pine Bluff), who
could successfully defend her crown in Saturday’s Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) at
Laurel Park. Alix M has solid early speed and is well drawn on the outside for a
clear stalking trip. She is a player for a share.

D’WILDCAT SPEED (Forest Wildcat) won then Pocahontas S. by 8 1/4 lengths,
then dueled with Alix M through the lane before settling for runner-up honors in
the Connie’s Magic S. Both races were at 6 1/2 furlongs at Calder. The Bill
White-trained mare, who has won a remarkable 15 of 19 career starts, has been
training forwardly for her return and is a sleeper for the exotics. GIVEMEMORE (Brz) (Special Nash [Ire]) won a couple of group races in her native
land and the 6 1/2-furlong Our Dear Peggy S. at Calder in her U.S. debut. Now
trained by Kenny McPeek, she figures to get a class test here.

Multiple stakes winner SLEWS FINAL ANSWER (Seattle Slew) has always been a
useful sort and exits a nice stalk-and-pounce victory in the six-furlong Minaret
S. at Tampa. She could hit the board at a price. EXPECT AN ANGEL (Valid
Expectations) won the seven-furlong Chaposa Springs H. (G3) at Calder defeating
Alix M two back and can’t be totally dismissed. Consider.

TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS:		1st-MADCAP ESCAPADE
		2nd-SOCIETY SELECTION
		3rd-ALIX M