Arlington Matron

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of 12 distaffers have been entered for Saturday’s $150,000 Arlington
Matron S. (G3) going nine furlongs over Arlington Park’s Polytrack, and we’re
tabbing FLOATING HEART (Giant’s Causeway) to take this one under Jesus Castanon.
The Todd Pletcher trainee is seeking her first win of the year but has been
close in three of her four starts this season, recording third-place runs in the
Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1), La Canada S. (G2) and Paseana H. Her only
off-the-board effort came last out on the turf at Keeneland in the Bewitch S.
(G3). Floating Heart earned nice triple-digit BRIS Late Pace ratings for the
Santa Margarita and La Canada, both at this race’s distance. The versatile mare
could finally add a first stakes success to her resume here.

SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled’s Song) ran third in the Bewitch and was fourth
by just a length in the grassy Suwannee River S. (G3) prior to that for trainer
Eric Reed. The four-year-old dark bay is no stranger to Arlington’s Polytrack,
though, rallying for a half-length second in last year’s Arlington Oaks (G3).
She earned a career-best 94 BRIS Speed rating for that one, and posted stellar
Late Pace numbers for her two starts so far this season. Sweet and Flawless will
probably enjoy the return to Polytrack and has the ability to score here with
Junior Alvarado aboard.

HOME’S THE BEST (Western Playboy) could be overlooked in the wagering but the
Brian Williamson runner loves the Polytrack at Arlington (11-3-3-3). The gray
mare captured an allowance/optional claimer over the synthetic surface on May 9,
and finished a decent fourth in last year’s Arlington Matron after being shut
off. The veteran six-year-old could move up a few spots this time around with
regular rider Lyndie Wade in the irons.

TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow) looks to be the class of this field, but the dark bay
mare will be trying an all-weather surface for the first time here. The Grade 2
winner opened the year with a pair of nice stakes wins on dirt and grass, but was
unable to defend her title in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) last out,
fading to fifth in the stretch. A surface switch may be just what the Michael
Stidham charge needs to get back on track, but we’re willing to take a stand
against in this spot with E.T. Baird taking the mount.

Like Tizaqueena, MAGICAL THEATER (Smart Strike) will be moving to the
Polytrack, but the surface doesn’t hold any mysteries for the five-year-old bay.
She made her career bow on Keeneland’s version of the synthetic before breaking
her maiden on Turfway’s Polytrack in 2007. The Rusty Arnold trainee has raced
exclusively on turf since, most recently finishing fourth in the Bewitch, and
could move up into the top three here while returning to the all-weather.
Michael Baze has the call.

EUPHONY (Forest Wildcat) scored in nine of her first 11 races, but hasn’t
shown that same brilliance in her last five tries. She closed out 2009 with a
fifth in the Molly Pitcher S. (G2) and appeared to be getting back on track when
opening her five-year-old season with a pair of runner-up efforts in the Pippin
S. and Azeri S. (G3). However, she was flat when fourth in the Bayakoa S. last
out, so we’re just going to tab her for a check. ASKBUT I WON’TTELL (Horse Chestnut [SAf])
captured the restricted Illinois Owners S. last out over the track and enters
this one with nice numbers. She could close out the superfecta.

HAKA (Dynaformer) won the Doubledogdare S. (G3) at Keeneland last out, but
she might not be fast enough to repeat that performance here. PEACH BREW (Milwaukee Brew)
scored in last season’s Arlington Oaks, but could do better than fourth behind
Home’s the Best last out. CELTIC PRINCESS (Brz) (Public Purse) just missed when
second by a neck while making her U.S. debut in December, but hasn’t been close
in four starts since. We can’t recommend. HARK (Street Cry [Ire]) owns lower
numbers than others in here and appears out of her class.

SOUPER MISS (Alphabet Soup) had minor success when opening her career on
Arlington’s Polytrack, continued that trend when trying turf, but blossomed into
a real competitor when finally given her shot on a conventional dirt surface in
her past three. She captured all three starts by a combined 12 1/2 lengths and
we can’t see her suddenly developing a liking for the Polytrack after finding a
surface she really likes.