Flower Bowl

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight talented turf distaffers will go ten panels on the Belmont inner turf
in Saturday’s $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1).

We love PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) in this spot and expect the talented
four-year-old to make a statement in this affair. Conditioned by Robert Holthus,
the classy chestnut finished a solid second in her lone effort over this sod in
the Garden City S. (G1) last fall and comes in here fresh with having only three
starts in 2009. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old has an explosive late kick and
could run past this field if the ground turns up firm under the guidance of
Julien Leparoux.

MONEYCANTBUYMELOVE (Ire) (Pivotal) was a fine third in the recent Nassau S.
(Eng-G1) and ships in for her stateside debut for conditioner Michael Bell. The
bay was winless in her first five starts but has really turned it on this
season, bagging a pair of handicap wins prior to the Nassau performance. We will
surely use the rapidly improving filly, and we love the fact that Jamie Spencer
comes in for the ride. We expect her to be in midpack early before putting in
her late run.

CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) has run clear to a quartet of graded wins this
season for Tom Albertrani, but has failed to make an impact in her last pair of
graded efforts. The swift five-year-old bay has proven to like this oval and we
think she’ll be a big threat at this distance if the early tempo is to her
liking. Javier Castellano will be in the irons. 

Multiple Grade 1 heroine DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer) dominated this field by four
lengths last year and comes in fresh off a tally in the Beverly D. S. (G1) for
Bill Mott. The well-bred bay mare loves soft ground but is a different animal of
firm going. If the ground is too dry we’ll look to beat the morning-line choice
with Kent Desormeaux.

LEAMINGTON (Pleasant Tap) has run first or second in all four starts since
arriving in the U.S. for Graham Motion, including a front-running score in the
Voodoo Dancer S. in her latest affair. The consistent bay will not be alone on
the lead this time, however, but her fine form and breeding to stay a route of
ground should see her in the mix throughout at a price beneath Edgar Prado.

The classy CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) has just one win from
five tries on U.S. soil, but has run big for Christophe Clement including a
near-miss in the Diana S. (G1) two races back. We’ve always thought of the
four-year-old lass as more of a miler type, so we will look elsewhere while
acknowledging the ability of the filly.

Group 3 heroine BEAUTY O’ GWAUN (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) is the wildcard in here
while making her first try in he U. S. for Clement. The bay will add blinkers
and Lasix for this and is bred to run all day, so we’ll include her in our
vertical plays. Glens Falls H. (G3) third QUEEN OF HEARTS (Thunder Gulch) has
progressed nicely throughout the year for Jimmy Jerkens, but we have to side
with more accomplished runners at this stage of her growth.