Ashland

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A fine field of sophomore fillies has been assembled for the $400,000 Ashland
S. (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday. Champion SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild) suffered
her lone defeat a year ago on this oval when a fine second in the Alcibiades S.
(G1) for conditioner Wayne Catalano. The Grade 1 vixen didn’t handle
her dirt debut so well in the Forward Gal S. (G2) to kick off 2010, but the transfer to
a synthetic surface could see her return to form. Jose Lezcano will guide
the Kentucky-bred.

PROTESTING (A.P. Indy), a five-length maiden winner at Keeneland in the fall,
finished second in the Demoiselle S. (G2) to conclude her freshman campaign for
Shug McGaughey, prior to a pair of fourth-place runs at three. The well-bred dark bay
could find out that this is her best type of footing and we consider her a live
top-three player with Javier Castellano.

Multiple Grade 1-placed BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) has yet to win since her first start but
has run very well versus some of the best in her generation for Ken McPeek. A
good second last out in the Honeybee S. (G3), the gray has run well here in the
past and should have every chance in her second off the shelf. Robby Albarado
will be in the irons.

Alcibiades queen NEGLIGEE (Northern Afleet) hasn’t raced since
recording a close sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)
for John Terranova II. The synthetic specialist has yet to put forth a subpar
effort and has trained forwardly in preparation of this, but we can’t back in her first start at three. IT’S TEA TIME (Dynaformer) is being ambitiously spotted in here by Rusty
Arnold. A maiden winner last out on the grass at Gulfstream Park, the talented but
lightly raced filly has a world of potential and shouldn’t be considered a toss
in this race even though she’ll have to run huge to be a big factor.

APPLE CHARLOTTE (Smart Strike), second in the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) most
recently, has never run worse than second but sports low BRIS Speed figures and
is stepping up in class for Graham Motion. Las Virgenes S. (G1) runner-up EVENING JEWEL (Northern Afleet) has been first
or second in her past six for James Cassidy, including three straight in
black-type events since stretching out in distance. The bay will be facing
arguably her deepest field to date on a new surface, so we’re inclined to let
her beat us in this one.

UPPERLINE (Maria’s Mon) beat the boys in an allowance tilt here in the fall
and comes in here off a pair of useful stakes tries at Gulfstream Park for
Michael
Stidham. The talented bay lacks the credentials of her main foes, but she likes
this oval and it’s been seen on numerous occasions that this venue produces
curious results. Shaun Bridgmohan will break from the rail atop the lass.