American Oaks J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Sunday's $700,000 American Oaks Invitational (G1) attracted an overflow field of

16, but only 14 will be allowed to start in what looks like an extremely

competitive renewal of the 1 1/4-mile turf affair. Three international raiders

are part of the main body of the field, but we'll stay domestic with GOZZIP GIRL

(Dynaformer) from the rail.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Gozzip Girl reeled off consecutive turf stakes

tallies in the Herecomesthebride (G3) and Coconut Grove at Gulfstream Park prior

to a good neck second in the Ashland S. (G1) over Polytrack. The dark bay miss

successfully went back to grass in the Sands Point S. (G2) last out, posting a

comfortable 1 1/4-length decision, and we'll look for her to keep moving forward

off that encouraging performance. Jockey Kent Desormeaux will retain the mount

on the stalker, who has registered century-topping BRIS Late Pace ratings in her

last three turf outings, and Gozzip Girl should be up close to an expected slow

pace, saving ground from the rail before striking.

APPLE CHARLOTTE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) invades in good form for Henry

Cecil, registering a pair of easy wins this season prior to a nose second in her

last start versus stakes rivals on June 11, and the bay picks up the services of

Mike Smith. The stakes-winning miss figures to easily handle the distance,

making her last two appearances over 10 furlongs, and she has a work at

Hollywood, logging seven furlongs over the Cushion Track on Wednesday. Apple

Charlotte looks very dangerous.

MAGICAL AFFAIR (Giant's Causeway) faltered as the slight favorite against our

top choice last time in the Sands Point, winding up fourth over the yielding

turf at Belmont Park, but the Michael Matz trainee will keep Julien Leparoux in

the saddle and is eligible to show more over firm ground Sunday. She recorded a

pair of impressive victories in her first two starts over firm turf, and the

chestnut owns excellent BRIS numbers. We'll look for a strong showing from off

the pace.

MRS KIPLING (Ire) (Exceed and Excel) looked fantastic when posting a 2

1/2-length score in the Senorita S. (G3) last out and has been freshened off

that May 3 appearance by Neil Drysdale. The bay miss was hurt by the post draw

(14), but jockey David Flores was going to take back anyway and look to make one

run. We like the way she's been training in preparation for this start and were

reluctant to keep her out of the top three, but we'll have to go four-deep in

our Pick 3s and Pick 4s.

AFTERNOON STROLL (Stroll) is unproven past a mile, but she could be the lone

speed and merits some consideration for a minor placing. Third in the American

One Thousand Guineas at Arlington last out, the Timothy Hamm charge has trained

forwardly in preparation for this start, and new rider Joe Talamo will look to

save as much as possible for the stretch run. She could hold for part at long

odds.

WELL MONIED (Maria's Mon) will bring a three-race wining skein into this

event, including a 1 1/4-length score in the Honeymoon H. (G2) last out, and the

Howard Zucker-trained gray merits serious respect given her current form. We

hate the post (13) and wonder about the extended distance, but we wouldn't

dissuade any one from using her in the top three. RARE RANSOM (GB) (Oasis Dream

[GB]) owns plenty of stakes experience, checking in fourth last time in the

Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), and trainer Dermot Weld shipped over to win

the 2003 American Oaks with Dimitrova. The Group 2-placed lass opened her 2009 campaign

with a solid score over older males at Gowran, Ireland, and Pat Smullen will be

in to ride the bay. We could see using her on the bottom of exotics.

ACTING LADY (Theatrical [Ire]) upset the one-mile Providencia S. (G2) three

back, but we're not thrilled about her chances at this distance. She's bred to

handle extended routes of ground and Rafael Bejarano will stick with the

talented Doug O'Neill runner, so it's your call. LEXLENOS (Ire) (Intikhab) is

another one to consider for the vertical wagers. Trained by Paddy Gallagher,

she's winless in two starts since arriving from England, but the chestnut

offered a solid late run to grab third in the Honeymoon last time, passing a

handful of rivals in the stretch. After being slow into stride in both starts,

Lexlenos may be starting to understand what U.S. racing is all about and could

sit a better trip here under Alex Solis. We won't be surprised to see her get

involved late from post 12.

New Zealand shipper PUTTANESCA (NZ) (Bertolini) won the Royal S. (NZ-G2) at

this distance in January, but the Wayne Hillis runner has dropped her last six

starts. The Southern Hemisphere-bred four-year-old did finish a close second in

her last two efforts, and she'll have top Australian jockey Glen Boss in the

saddle. We have class concerns, but still expect to see a solid finish from her.

THE BEST DAY EVER (Brahms) will enter on the upswing for Kenny McPeek, finishing

second by neck in her stakes debut last time, the Regret S. (G3) at Churchill

Downs, but we're not thrilled about her chances on the class hike. Post 11 is

another detriment.

PRETTY UNUSUAL (Unusual Heat) owns good tactical speed and should be

forwardly placed with a lack of early speed in the field. The dark bay has never

been the distance and failed to hit the board in her lone start at nine

furlongs, and there are too many questions about her turf ability for her to use

her. NAN (High Yield) owns a decent turf mark (3-0-2-1), but her recent efforts

are dull and we have to question whether she's good enough to challenge at this

level. THIRD DAWN (Sky Mesa), who finished second versus maiden special weight

foes in her lone turf attempt, hasn't been much of a factor versus graded rivals

in her last two starts over synthetic tracks, and we'll just watch to see how

she fares on the sod.

DAYLUMNEY (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) and English shipper WAKE ME NOW (Ire) (Almutawakel

[GB])

must both draw in from the also-eligible list, and we'll let both of them beat

us if they do get in.