Princess Rooney

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $500,000 Princess Rooney H. (G2) is the next-to-last event on
Calder’s Summit of Speed card and features a terrific cast of eight fillies and
mares. MADCAP ESCAPADE (Hennessy) will be making her first start at six furlongs
in nearly 17 months, but the Grade 1 winner has always appeared better suited
for shorter distances and should relish the expected wet conditions in South
Florida.

Trained by Frankie Brothers, Madcap Escapade caught an extremely tiring track
at Churchill last time and faltered in deep stretch to be fifth, beaten two
lengths, in the seven-furlong Humana Distaff H. (G1). She earned a 110 BRIS
Speed rating when capturing the Madison S. (G3) two starts back over a muddy
Keeneland track and opened 2005 with a stellar score in the Shirley Jones H.
(G2) that was good for a 112 Speed figure. Madcap Escapade is as quick as they
come and should flash to the front here under Jerry Bailey and lead wire to
wire.

SENSIBLY CHIC (Distorted Humor) looks formidable off an excellent score in
Belmont’s Vagrancy H. (G2) last out. The Timothy Tullock Jr. charge rolled to a 3
3/4-length win last time, earning a 106 Speed rating, and she’s always run well
going six panels (14-6-3-2) and racing over wet tracks (6-2-2-1). The New
York-bred mare will likely settle into a perfect stalking trip and she could
have a major say in the final furlongs if the speed falters.

WILD SPEED (Forest Wildcat) was switched to trainer Jose Garoffalo this year
and has run two big races since returning from a 7 1/2-month layoff, taking a
pair of six furlong sprints at Calder. The speedy chestnut has run well over wet
tracks (3-1-2-0) and will likely be up close tracking the pace from the start.
Given her strong present form, Wild Speed could add some value to the exotics.

MOLTO VITA (Carson City) recorded a nice win going six furlongs last time at
Churchill Downs, but the Dallas Stewart-trained miss might be a little better at
6 1/2 or seven furlongs. A Grade 3 winner, the five-year-old mare owns the Speed
ratings to be a serious factor and must be respected off her last two attempts,
but Molto Vita is winless from five starts on wet tracks.

PROSPECTIVE SAINT (Saint Ballado) got a confidence-building victory last
time, but she does her best running on the pace and will have to work hard here
to stay with the other speed. The dark bay miss didn’t run well when stepping up
to face graded rivals last year on a wet track, and we’ll let her beat us on the
class hike here. HAPPY TICKET (Anet) will be tested for class and steps up off a
nice Grade 3 score at Arlington Park. Trained by Andrew Leggio Jr., the
Louisiana-bred four-year-old is undefeated from nine career starts but has faced
mostly state-bred rivals. We’ll watch to see how she fares on this class hike.

SAVORTHETIME (Gilded Time) should appreciate the cutback in distance to six
furlongs, but this company looks too difficult for the chestnut mare. SORBET
(Formal Dinner) tailed off in her last two outings and faces a class hike in
this spot. Can’t recommend her chances.