My Charmer

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Twelve fillies and mares, an also-eligible and two main-track only entrants
are entered for Calder’s 8TH race Saturday, the My Charmer H. (G3). The 1 1/8-mile
turf affair features Violet H. (G3) winner
CHANGING WORLD (Spinning World), but we will try to beat her with HAIL HILLARY
(Yarrow Brae), who is 12-1 on the morning line.

The David Kassen charge recorded her third-straight victory in her last attempt, taking
an allowance at Churchill Downs in wire-to-wire fashion and crossing the line
6 1/2 lengths in front of her nearest rival. Her other two victories in
this streak include an optional-claiming race and her second score in the
Maryland Million Ladies S. in as many years. The four-year-old has shown that
she can come from the back of the pack or take it in front-running fashion. This
versatility makes a dangerous combination and is part of the reason why she has
only landed off the board once in seven tries. Kassen will lift jockey Eusebio
Razo Jr. into the saddle.

Changing World has one start on the Calder turf, the Frances A. Genter S., which she won last December by two lengths. The four-year-old owns the only
century-topping BRIS Speed figure in the main field, a 103 set last out in the
Violet. Trainer Barclay Tagg has raced the filly lightly this year, with only
three previous starts in 2004, one of which was a neck win over fellow rival
ALCHEMIST (A.P. Indy) in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer in August over a
yielding turf. Gary Boulanger will make his first appearance aboard the
filly.

SNOWDROPS (GB) (Gulch) could have an advantage if a speed duel materializes
in front. The Christophe Clement trainee has consistently shown
the highest BRIS Late Pace figures in the field, recording seven consecutive
triple-digit numbers. She finished a close fourth in her last
start, the Athenia H. (G3), and turned in a good run in the De la Rose S. prior
to that after being
blocked and forcing jockey Edgar Prado to alter her course, eventually finishing
second and ending a four-race win streak. Brice Blanc takes the reins Saturday
and will attempt to put the four-year-old filly back in the winner’s circle.

FORMAL MISS (Formal Dinner) has the most experience at Calder, posting six
victories in her 13 tries at the track. Jockey Manoel Cruz has seen his share of
success lately, finding the winner’s circle 10 times in his last 30 tries. He
has four previous wins on the four-year-old, two of which came in the filly’s last two starts, the Garden Saint S. and Soft Parade S. Look for the bay
miss
to challenge for part in the end.

Alchemist comes off a fifth-place outing in the Galaxy S. (G2) after
being strung six-wide coming for home. Starting her move entering the turn, the
chestnut was able only to make a slight gain. Given a later cue and a better
trip, she might have
shown a better placing. She deserves consideration for the gimmicks here with jockey Eibar Coa, who
is 5-3-2 in the past two weeks. MYSTERY ITSELF (Pulpit) comes off a sixth-place outing in the Athenia.
The four-year-old returns to Calder where she is two-for-two on the Sunshine State
track. Jockey Eddie Castro, who has earned seven victories in as many days, will
be making an appearance aboard the filly.

OMEYA (Chi) (Milt’s Overture) is
coming off a two-month layoff for her first graded stakes attempt. She owns two
wins since making the journey north to the United States last March, both in optional claimers,
and could possibly threaten if she continues to show more for conditioner
Jonathan Sheppard. SOMETHING VENTURED (Cobra King) made a poor appearance in the Athenia, being
forced to check in the second turn and eventually finishing 10th. Prior to
that, the five-year-old was the runner-up in a pair of stakes.
She has never placed off the board at Calder, but is facing stiffer competition
than usual here and will have to break from the far outside post.

RIGHT THIS WAY (West by West) enters off a
win in the Soaring Softly S. against lesser competition. The sophomore miss has found her
home on the turf and won two
of her last three starts. Despite this success, we’ll watch to see how she fares
in this one. ANEGADA (Arch) comes off a victory at Churchill versus allowance company. Her
only triumphant outings have come on the turf thus far, but she will probably be
outclassed here. BROADWAY LADY (Ordway) is unraced at Calder and has yet to
really define herself on the turf. Don’t expect a successful performance here.
LOVE STING (Lit De Justice) will most likely be taken to the front out of the gate,
but we can’t envision her sustaining her speed throughout.

CLOUDY GRAY (Kissin Kris) is the lone also-eligible in Saturday’s race.
If she makes the main field, the gray will most likely be bested by better competition. REDOUBLED MISS (Adhocracy) and PAMPERED PRINCESS (Indian
Charlie) are listed for the main track only. Redouble Miss has a stakes victory,
the Shocker T. H., under her belt for current trainer, Ronald Spatz, and could
challenge for it all against a depleted lineup. Pampered Princess finished fifth
in the Shocker T. but must be considered for part if the race is moved to the
main track.