Barbara Fritchie

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $200,000 Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) at Laurel Park attracted defending champion
BEAR FAN (Pine Bluff) and the classy six-year-old mare is even-money on the
morning line. She’s a formidable presence, but we’ll try to beat her with
SENSIBLY CHIC (Distorted Humor).

Trained by Tim Tullock Jr., Sensibly Chic ended 2004 on a strong note,
winning the Stefanita S. at Pimlico before finishing second by a head in the
Garland of Roses H. at Aqueduct. Both efforts earned triple-digit BRIS Speed
ratings, and the five-year-old mare opened this season with a sharp score over
the track in the What a Summer S., advancing from the rail to the lead en route
to a 6 1/2-length decision, receiving a superb 110 Speed figure. Sensibly Chic
worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 4/5 to prepare for this start and is a
winner at seven furlongs. We’ll look for her to carry her form forward with a slight
upset here.

After winning eight of her first 12 career starts, Bear Fan has dropped her
last two. She didn’t run poorly either time and probably needed her last
race off a layoff, but the Wesley Ward trainee has never had the best feet and
she may not be at the same level now that she once was. With that being said,
watch her go out and school her rivals on Saturday.

SILMARIL (Diamond) brings a two-race winning skein into this event but both
have come at longer distances. The dark bay is one-for-one at seven furlongs, but
she probably favors a little more ground. There’s no doubting her consistency
(10-7-1-0), however, and Silmaril owns a home-court advantage. We’ll look for
her to rally late for part.

CATIVA (Sir Cat) will flash speed from the start and could last a long way
under Edgar Prado. She’s won her last three starts for Richard Dutrow and will
step up to face stakes foes here. We’ll use the speedy dark bay on the bottom of
the exotics.

WALLOP (Grand Slam) brings decent form and Speed ratings into this event but
will be tested for class. The Don Barr trainee should sit a good stalk-and-pace
trip under Nik Goodwin, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the four-year-old
miss finish up well. JOSH’S MADELYN (Quiet American) loves an off track, but the
weather forecast calls for fast conditions. She received a tightener in her last
outing at Oaklawn Park and did show some class last year winning a Grade 2
event, but we’re willing to go against the four-year-old miss in her first
Maryland attempt.

SANTA CROCE (Saint Ballado) is going well now, but she’s never faced graded
company and would be a surprise from the far outside post. RICHETTA (Polish
Numbers) likes Laurel but looks better at longer distances. LAVENDER LASS (Skip
Trial) has been much more successful at six furlongs. SPECTACULAR MOON
(Migrating Moon) doesn’t look fast enough to offer a serious challenge.