Top Flight J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS

Nine fillies and mares will go postward in Friday’s $150,000 Top Flight H.
(G2), a one-turn mile affair at Aqueduct. We’ll tab the Todd Pletcher-trained MO
CUISHLE (Saint Ballado) to extend her unbeaten mark to a perfect four for four.
The later developing sophomore started her career at Delaware Park this summer,
breaking her maiden and clearing her first allowance condition versus older
rivals in emphatic style. Stepping up into graded stakes company in the Monmouth
Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3), Mo Cuishle was even more impressive, pressing the pace
before storming home by 7 1/4 lengths. That performance earned her a 104 BRIS
Speed rating as well as a 106 Late Pace rating. The dark bay will likely face a
stiffer test here, but she’s done nothing wrong yet and could prove to be
something special. Mo Cuishle figures to enjoy a stalk-and-pounce trip beneath
Jose Santos.

MISS SHOP (Deputy Minister) hasn’t been the most consistent performer for
Allen Jerkens, but when she’s on her game, the three-year-old filly is a serious
threat. Her third-place efforts in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and
Ruffian H. (G1) are notable not only because they show her class, but also
because they demonstrate her proficiency at one turn. Miss Shop is proven over
this surface as well, having broken through with her first graded stakes score
in the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3) last time out. If she can put together two
straight good performances, she’ll uncork a stirring rally in the stretch.

The four-year-old CARMANDIA (Wild Rush) is exiting a decisive, 3 1/4-length
victory in the seven-furlong First Flight H. (G2), in which she swept from near
the back of the pack while racking up a 108 Late Pace figure. While it would be
no surprise to see the Richard Dutrow filly repeat that effort here, we’re
slightly concerned by her lack of wins at this distance (7-1-3-1), so we feel
safer using her underneath.

MALIBU MINT (Malibu Moon) was on a tear earlier in the season, capturing the
Princess Rooney H. (G1) and just missing in the Honorable Miss H. (G2). Her dirt
form has fallen off since then, although she’s looked smart when taking a pair
of events on Polytrack this fall, including the Thoroughbred Club of America S.
(G3) at Keeneland. In her latest outing in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), she
was never in the hunt and wound up12th. The Top Flight will be her 12th start of
a busy season, just three weeks after the Breeders’ Cup debacle, and we don’t know which
Malibu Mint will show up. That, combined with the fact that she was well beaten
in her only attempt at stretching out to a mile, and we’re a bit leery.

RAHYS’ APPEAL (Rahy) has enjoyed the most success in New York-bred turf
stakes, but she moves up considerably on an off track. If the dirt has any
moisture in it, the Tom Bush trainee is very much worth consideration in the top
three. YOLANDA B. TOO (Two Punch), the likely pacesetter, hasn’t won outside of
allowance/optional claiming company this year. Still, she has a couple of
respectable stakes-placed efforts to her credit and could just hold on for a
minor award.

CLASSY CHARM (Silver Charm) is a solid performer in overnight stakes but has
class issues in this spot. In her defense, she does boast a reasonably
encouraging record at a mile (10-4-3-0). Sophomore NO REASON (Precise End) is
taking a leap from state-bred stakes, and we’ll give her a race at this level.
NOTIMETOQUIT (Toolighttoquit) was well beaten by Carmandia in the First Flight
and would have to improve beyond all recognition to be involved at the finish
here.