First Lady

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A strong field of nine filly and mare turf distaffers will go one mile over
the Keeneland turf course in Saturday’s $400,000 First Lady S. (G1). PROVISO
(GB) (Dansili [GB]) has bagged three straight Grade 1 races and is our pick to
make it four in a row for trainer Bill Mott. The Juddmonte homebred is of top
class and has a nose for the wire, and she has earned substantial triple-digit
BRIS Late Pace numbers in her last four endeavors. Mike Smith retains the mount
atop the superb mare.

Ballston Spa H. (G2) victress DYNASLEW (Dynaformer) has really turned the
corner since joining the Seth Benzel barn, running five big races in succession.
The peaking dark bay has very good positional speed and proved her class with a
fine score last out over a solid group. The Florida-bred must be considered a
win player under Javier Castellano if our top choice falters.

WASTED TEARS (Najran) sports a supreme 14-11-0-1 mark on the lawn and has
bagged seven races in a row for trainer Bart Evans, including the Jenny Wiley S.
(G2) here in the spring. The razor-sharp five-year-old has seven wins from eight
tries at the one-mile trip and has trained well leading up to this, so she’s an
absolute must-use. We are somewhat concerned about the fact that she could be
pushed every step of the way in here, however, under the guidance of Rajiv
Maragh.

Group 3 heroine FANTASIA (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) earned a stout 121 BRIS Late
Pace number in her lone try on this lawn and could get a healthy pace at which
to run at in here, so we must include the bay filly in our plays for trainer
Jonathan Sheppard. Julien Leparoux has the assignment.

California import GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy) has won or placed in nine of
10 tries at this distance and is in very good current form for trainer Janine
Sahadi. The hard-trying six-year-old might be a touch below the top ones in here, but we will use her in our vertical plays at an expected useful price. KISS MINE (Mineshaft) has clearly never been better and rolls into this one
off of four straight wins for conditioner David Vance. The dark bay
four-year-old has toppled significantly cheaper in her previous runs, but we
can’t fault her form and might toss her in some of our gimmicks.

Multiple graded stakes queen C. S. SILK (Medaglia d’Oro) has good early speed
and is a winner in her lone try over this oval for conditioner Dale Romans, but
the filly is not likely to flourish with the expected pace scenario so we’ll
pass. WEST HOPE (Brz) (Crimson Tide) was a surprising second in the Gardenia H.
(G3) on dirt at Ellis Park most recently but would be a major upset. CURE FOR
SALE (Arg) (Not for Sale) looks in too deep.