Regret

Saturday’s $200,000 Regret S. (G3) has attracted a field of 11 sophomore
fillies to contend over 1 1/8 grassy miles at Churchill Downs. As is often the
case with turf contests, especially those featuring young, lightly raced horses,
there is no shortage of solid candidates. Still, we strongly believe that LADY
OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) could prove to be a top-class individual, and
we’ll tab her as our top selection.

Making her U.S. bow in the Appalachian S. at
Keeneland (the stakes that gave us the brilliant Melhor Ainda [Pulpit] last
year), the Patrick Biancone trainee posted a 101 BRIS Late Pace rating while
scoring a stylish 2 1/4-length victory over MAY NIGHT (Gulch), who has shown the
value of the form by placing twice since. Lady of Venice began her career as a
juvenile in France, where she was apparently regarded well enough to debut in an
allowance at Chantilly, placing second, but has not been defeated again. In her
subsequent outings at Longchamp, she captured a maiden event and a 1 1/8-mile
allowance. The chestnut has been working superbly in advance of this target and
will once again benefit from the services of hot apprentice rider Julien
Leparoux. Biancone said some time ago that the American Invitational Oaks (G1)
is her major midseason goal, so we are confident that Lady of Venice can handle this group.

MAGNIFICENT SONG (Unbridled’s Song) is riding a two-race win streak, most
recently getting up in the 1 1/16-mile Edgewood S. at Churchill over FIERY
DANCER (Atticus) and May Night. The Todd Pletcher pupil is proven at the added
distance, with a sharp 3 3/4-length win in a Keeneland allowance under her belt
in which she earned a field-best 98 Speed figure. Garrett Gomez will retain the
mount.

Fiery Dancer upheld the Edgewood form by coming right back to win an
off-the-turf allowance, defeating May Night and RED CHERRIES SPIN (With
Approval). Although Fiery Dancer is a full sister to Grade 3-winning turf
sprinter Atticus Kristy, she can boast a win over the 1 1/8-mile trip in a
Keeneland allowance, recording a 96 Speed rating and a 107 Late Pace score. With
Rafael Bejarano aboard, the Merrill Scherer filly looms as an early pace factor
likely to stick around at the finish.

Claimed by trainer Bernie Flint for $75,000 three starts back, Red Cherries
Spin  had her head in front in the stretch of the Kentucky Oaks (G1)
before being bumped and weakening to sixth (promoted to fifth via
disqualification). In light of her potent grass pedigree, Flint wanted to try
her on the turf next. Unfortunately, that aforementioned allowance came off the
turf, the gray broke in the air and wound up a well beaten third. She should
show more this time on a surface she was bred to relish, but the key question is
if she’s good enough. May Night has not run a bad race this year but keeps
coming up a bit short. That makes her a good option to fill out the exotics,
even though she’s unlikely to win.

SALTY RESPONSE (Cozzene), testing stakes waters for the first time for Dale
Romans, should be on or near the lead in the opening stages. After breaking her
maiden by 5 3/4 lengths over Turfway Park’s Polytrack, she won a Churchill
allowance in her turf debut last time out. This represents a jump in class, but
the chestnut just turned in a bullet move, should handle the distance and is
eligible to earn a minor award. CANDY MA’AM (Lemon Drop Kid) is coming off a
last-to-first victory over the course and could be an improving type for Ian
Wilkes. She’ll get an honest pace to set up her late kick, but we’re hesitant
because she took three tries to clear her first allowance condition. NOTTAWASAGA
(Deputy Minister) defeated Candy Ma’am two starts ago when landing a Keeneland
allowance and most recently won an allowance/optional claimer at Woodbine. While
the chestnut could make her presence felt, it’s disconcerting that she hasn’t
hit the board in two tries at the distance.

BEST MOM (Chester House) never threatened in the Edgewood and enters this
race off an allowance win against easier at Arlington Park. BEAU DARE (Military)
faded to seventh in the Edgewood after setting the pace, and with a few rivals
to keep her busy on the front end here, it’s hard to forecast a different result
this time. PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) is a half-sister to 2004 champion turf
horse Kitten’s Joy, but she has only an off-the-turf maiden score on her resume
and has to improve considerably on her Speed figures to factor in this spot.