Demoiselle

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Nine juvenile fillies will contest the $200,000 Demoiselle S. (G2) at
Aqueduct on Saturday, and all of them are attempting the demanding distance of 1
1/8 miles for the first time. A few have two-turn experience, but the only one
with a stakes win over a route of ground is MISS GOODNIGHT (Johannesburg). We’ll
give the nod to this Tim Ritchey pupil who will be making her first start away
from Delaware Park. After breaking her maiden by 9 1/4 lengths in her third
outing sprinting, the bay stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the Blue Hen S. and
posted an emphatic, 2 3/4-length score. Miss Goodnight is bred to handle the
extra distance, since her dam, Night Fax (Known Fact), won the 1 1/4-mile
Delaware H. (G2) in 1995. She projects a pace-prompting trip beneath regular
rider Stewart Elliott.

BOCA GRANDE (A.P. Indy), a royally bred filly campaigned by the Phipps
Stable, is making her stakes bow. The Shug McGaughey trainee is coming off an
impressive maiden win going one mile at Belmont Park, and she figures to improve
around two turns. We probably won’t see her reach the peak of her powers until
next year, but Boca Grande looms as a major contender at 6-1 on the morning
line.

The Scott Blasi-trained SUCCESSFUL OUTLOOK (Orientate), two for two so far,
landed the Tempted S. (G3) at this track last time out. Her pedigree is tilted
toward speed, however, and this nine-furlong test marks her two-turn debut.
Successful Outlook should turn in another professional effort, but in light of
her being suspect at the trip, we’ll try to beat the 3-1 morning line favorite.

GET READY BERTIE (More Than Ready) has two routes under her belt, a seventh
in the Alcibiades S. (G2) and most recently a four-length tally in a Churchill
Downs allowance. She promises to come charging late with young phenom Fernando
Jara.

SUPER NATASCHA (Pulpit) also owns plenty of experience going two turns. Twice
stakes-placed, the Michael Matz filly chased our top selection in the Blue Hen
in her latest. We don’t envision her turning the tables, but she’s eligible to
close once again for a minor award. Maid of the Mist S. queen GRAND MERGER (A.P.
Indy), a full sister to Grade 1 winner and young sire Stephen Got Even, is
venturing outside of New York-bred company for the first time. Although the
class hike is cause for pause, her pedigree commands respect.

DUCHESS OF STANCO (Scorpion) is taking the plunge into graded company after
breaking her maiden in her seven-furlong debut, and we’ll opt to watch her in
this second career start for Kiaran McLaughlin. Her uncoupled stablemate, GRACE
HAPPENS (Aptitude), just won a maiden special weight on the turf but has never
raced on a conventional dirt surface. The ex-Canadian RIVANNA RIVER (Storm
Creek) is taking a sizeable class jump in her two-turn debut for new trainer
Niall O’Callaghan.