TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
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ORCHID S. (G3), 9TH-GP, $150,000, 4YO/UP, F/M, 1 1/2MT, 5:14 P.M. EDT, 3-22 |
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| PP | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | WT |
| 1 |
JULIA TUTTLE |
ALLEN A FERRIS III |
TRUJILLO E |
120 |
| 2 |
FAVORITE FANTASY |
DE GANNES GREGORY |
MCALENEY J S |
114 |
| 3 |
LAGUNA PLATEADA (CHI) |
MAKER REBECCA | VELAZQUEZ J R | 122 |
| 4 |
CRITICISM (GB) |
ALBERTRANI THOMAS |
PRADO E S |
122 |
| 5 |
DRESS REHEARSAL (IRE) |
MOTT WILLIAM I | DESORMEAUX K J | 120 |
| 6 |
LAMENTATION (GB) |
CLEMENT CHRISTOPHE |
DOUGLAS R R |
116 |
| 7 |
EMPIRESS |
NIHEI MICHELLE |
LEPAROUX JULIEN |
114 |
| 8 |
PASTEL GAL |
TAGG BARCLAY |
LEZCANO JOSE |
118 |
A field of eight has been assembled for Sunday’s $150,000 Orchid S. (G3) at
Gulfstream Park, and CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) is looking for her third
straight graded score. The Tom Albertrani-trained five-year-old rounded out 2008
with a one-length victory in the Long Island H. (G3) and opened 2009 with a
front-running, 2 1/2-length score in The Very One S. (G3). The Long Island came
at Sunday’s distance of 1 1/2 miles, and Criticism gained experience over the
track with her The Very One win. Edgar Prado should be able to guide the bay
mare to yet another victory.
DRESS REHEARSAL (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) was second in The Very One last out in
just her second U.S. start. The Irish listed winner opened her stateside
campaign with an allowance/optional claiming score at Tampa Bay Downs in
mid-January, and will be looking to turn the tables on Criticism in this one.
Trained by Bill Mott, the bay lass has been training well in preparation for
this showdown, but we think she’ll be filling out the place spot once again.
Kent Desormeaux retains the mount.
LAMENTATION (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) was an easy winner of a 12-furlong
allowance at Gulfstream prior to finishing fifth while going 1 3/8 miles in The
Very One last out. The five-year-old chestnut made her U.S. bow a runner-up
effort in the 1 1/2-mile La Prevoyante H. (G2) in mid-December, and could
challenge for the win while returning to a distance she seems to prefer. Rene
Douglas, aboard for all three starts since Lamentation transferred to Christophe
Clement, returns to the saddle.
PASTEL GAL (Lemon Drop Kid) has experience winning on Gulfstream’s turf, but
hasn’t gone farther than nine furlongs in her career. However, the rest of the
Orchid competition aren’t exactly experts going 1 1/2 miles, so the dark bay
mare could find herself earning a spot in the top three with Jose Lezcano
holding the reins.
The only win EMPIRESS (Empire Maker) has earned came when she broke her
maiden at Churchill Downs in November. She’s been close in a couple of starts
since then and could take home a check here if she gets a clean break. FAVORITE
FANTASY (Richter Scale) was a nice fourth against allowances rivals while going
off at 90-1, and could offer value in the bottom of the gimmicks once again.
JULIA TUTTLE (Giant’s Causeway) probably needs less distance to have a shot
at a placing. LAGUNA PLATEADA (Chi) (Sir Cat) appears out of her class against
these. We can’t recommend either one.
| TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS: | 1st-CRITICISM (GB) | |
| 2nd-DRESS REHEARSAL (Ire) | ||
| 3rd-LAMENTATION (GB) |