Matriarch (G1)

Nine will enter the gate for the $500,000 Matriarch S. (G1) at
Hollywood Park Sunday. The one-mile turf event brings several top
female runners together for what should shape up to be an
excellent race.

OCEAN DRIVE (Belong to Me) comes off a close third-place
outing in the Violet H. (G3), an outing which broke her two-race
win streak, where she came out of the Ballston Spa Breeders’ Cup
H. (G3) and Noble Damsel H. (G3) on the lead end of the pack. The
Todd Pletcher charge has earned three straight century topping
BRIS Speed figures and will be under the control of regular rider
John Velazquez, who has a record of 13-5-2-3 aboard the four-year-old
filly. Watch for her to rate just off the pace and to work for
the lead entering the stretch.

John C. Mabee H. (G1) winner MUSICAL CHIMES (In Excess [GB])
enters off a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)
after a dreadful trip in which she was blocked coming around the
second turn. Despite the poor outing, she earned the highest
Speed figure of her career, a 113, which is also the highest of
the field. The four-year-old miss came a neck away from winning
this race last year and has a very good chance of landing on the
top of the board here.

TICKER TAPE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) is coming off a victory
in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1), a trip that came on the heels
of a win in the Pucker Up S. (G3) in early October. This will be
her sixth attempt at the one-mile distance, ground which she has
conquered twice and come in second three times. She will attempt
the hat trick here under jockey Victor Espinoza, who is making
his first start aboard the three-year-old filly.

INTERCONTINENTAL (GB) (Danehill) owns three victories since
moving to the States earlier this year. The Bobby Frankel pupil
has landed on the board four times at this distance and could
prove to be a factor here. She has shown the ability to come from
the back of the pack or to track just off the pace to land
herself in the winner’s circle. If a speed duel develops, she
should be in a good striking position to challenge.

ISLAND FASHION (Petionville) will making only her third try on
the grass. Her previous two attempts have landed her off the
board, including a sixteenth-place outing in a Japanese Grade 1
trip in June. In the her other attempt, the gray filly posted a
close fourth in last year’s edition of the Matriarch. The classy
filly merits consideration. DENEBOLA (Storm Cat) will be making
her U.S. debut Sunday. She has Group 1 and 3 wins to her credit
over good competition thus far and could look to be a contender
here. Despite a 50-day layoff, keep her in mind for the bottom of
the gimmicks.

ETOILE MONTANTE (Miswaki) comes off a win last out in the
Palomar Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) but will face much tougher here. A
duel up front may materialize between the four-year-old chestnut
and Ocean Drive or HOH BUZZARD (Ire) (Alhaarth), a move that
could benefit the likes of pack closers like Intercontinental and
Ticker Tape. Hoh Buzzard won the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) in her
second start on American grass. Since then, however, she has
added a couple of poor finishes to her resume.

QUERO QUERO (Royal Academy) made a poor run in the Beverly D.
S. (G1), passing the wire 10 places back. She followed that up
with a second last out in an allowance on the Hollywood turf.
Despite this recent improvement, she will most likely be
outclassed here.