Gallorette J

The $100,000 Gallorette H. (G3) at Pimlico on Saturday has drawn a well
matched field of 14 distaffers. The 2-1 morning line favorite in the grassy 1
1/16-mile contest, MY TYPHOON (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway), is making her seasonal
reappearance for horseman Bill Mott. As much respect as we have for this regally
bred Grade 2 winner, we think she has a lot to overcome to succeed here in her
first start outside of her own age group. She’s been assigned top weight of 120
pounds, so she’s spotting between two and nine pounds to her rivals, and what’s
worse, her forward running style has been at a decided disadvantage over this
trip on the Pimlico lawn this meet. So we’ll take a stab at a big price in this
deep group.

OZONE BERE (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]) is far better than her derisory 20-1 morning
line odds would imply. The five-time French stakes winner gets Lasix in her U.S.
debut for Christophe Clement, who’s winning at a healthy 27 percent clip with
imports making their American bows. Throw out her last race at Deauville in
January, which was run on the all-weather surface that she probably failed to
handle. On turf, she’s turned in some solid performances, as a quick look at her
French form lines reveals. She’s twice defeated Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant’s
Causeway), a subsequent U.S. Grade 2 winner also with Clement. On another
occasion, she left Olaya (Theatrical [Ire]), another eventual Grade 2 winner, 6
1/2 lengths behind, and as a juvenile, she beat future American Grade 3 winner
Louvain (Ire) (Sinndar). Ozone Bere also raced well against males, beating
subsequent Group 3 winner Gold Sound (Green Tune) and going down by a nose to
Starpix (Linamix), who two starts later finished second in the Prix Jean Prat
(Fr-G1). With the turf course favoring closers, she should be able to storm home
late beneath her 115-pound impost and Javier Castellano to take the prize.

Multiple Grade 1 queen AMORAMA (Fr) (Sri Pekan) hasn’t found the winner’s
circle since switching to Bobby Frankel three starts back, but she’s suffered
some troubled trips as well as unsuitably slow pace scenarios. In her latest
outing, the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland, she earned a 105 BRIS Late Pace
rating when fourth behind Wend (Pulpit), with subsequent Churchill Distaff Turf
Mile S. (G3) winner Mirabilis (Lear Fan) just a head in front of her in third.
Although we still believe that she needs a longer trip than 1 1/16 miles, we
think that the Gallorette, with its abundance of early pace factors, will set up
better for her late punch. Garrett Gomez keeps faith with the five-year-old, who
receives two pounds from the younger My Typhoon.

Despite the obstacles she’s facing, My Typhoon is too classy to ignore
altogether. The Grade 1-placed filly is a perfect three-for-three at the
distance, including the Hilltop Breeders’ Cup S. at Pimlico last May and her
2005 finale, the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Edgar Prado will likely
carve out a stalking trip, and we wouldn’t be surprised if she strikes the front
in upper stretch. The question is whether she’ll be able to hold off some pretty
tough closers.

ZONA (Ity) (Mr. Greeley) hasn’t had things go her way in two
starts since her successful U.S. debut, but we expect her to show significant
improvement with different tactics. She rated off the pace in her first start
for horseman Michael Matz and exploded to a three-length score in an
allowance/optional claimer at Calder, posting a 108 Late Pace figure. Zona then
adopted pacesetting or pressing tactics in her two stakes tries with
unsatisfactory results. Matz was explicit that she was not supposed to be on the
front last time in the Jenny Wiley, and he’s made a rider change to Alex Solis
for this race. At 15-1 in the morning line, this Italian stakes winner could add
value to the exotics.

LAURAFINA (Cozzene) peaked over the winter, with a solid win in the Frances
A. Genter S. (G3) followed by an excellent second in the Endeavour Breeders’ Cup
S., leaving a returning Amorama well back in third. After a problem-plagued
fifth in the Hillsborough S. (G3), she showed little when fading to last of
eight in the Beaugay H. (G3). The gray is eligible to take the honors here if
returning to her best, but the evidence of her last two gives cause for pause.
SMART N CLASSY (Smart Strike) has a strong record at the distance (10-2-4-1),
with one of those victories a Grade 3 event. The John Tammaro III trainee made a
smashing reappearance in the Dahlia S. at Laurel, getting up for second behind
Grade 1 winner Sweet Talker (Stormin Fever). The six-year-old mare has the
credentials to hit the board at an enticing 12-1 in the morning line, although
she is parked in post 14. Dahlia third HUMORISTIC (Sefapiano) captured the
Violet H. (G3) at 1 1/16 miles last fall, racking up a 100 Speed figure, and
she’s another who is good enough to get into the gimmicks.

THETACTICS OFDANCE (Tactical Advantage), My Typhoon’s stablemate from the
Mott barn, is coming off her first stakes success in the Turf Distaff S. at
Tampa Bay Downs. She likes the trip (7-2-1-2), but she’s facing a saltier bunch
here. No rider has been named yet. Graham Motion sends out Keeneland allowance
winner MISS AUDREY (Grand Slam) in a tough spot for a stakes debut. She’s won
three of five career starts, earned a 105 Late Pace rating two races back, and
gets the services of apprentice phenom Rosie Napravnik. She figures to be one of
the early pace factors here, which can only make her task more difficult.

ART FAN (Lear Fan) and TOPIARY (Arch) are coupled in the wagering. Although
the former is more accomplished, neither looks likely to make an impact here.
ERNABEL (Power of Mind) is out of her depth. Two probable pace factors, QUEEN
SUPREME (King of Kings [Ire]) and FEELIN’ THE BREEZE (Belong to Me), have never
won or placed in a stakes from a combined 42 lifetime starts.