Early Times Mint Julep Handicap preview

Saturday, June 16, 2007
Churchill Downs - Race 8
1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (Grade 3)
3-year-olds and upward, fillies and mares
Purse $150,000.

On paper, it seemed that DANZON was placed over her head against males in the Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby day, but she ran a bang-up race to be third, and finished ahead of such solid performers as Better Talk Now (next-out winner of the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap) and Grade 1 winners Milk It Mick and Einstein. Danzon will get a bit of class relief on Saturday as she makes the third start of the campaign with improving Beyers on display. She has a strong late kick, and there looks to be enough pace for her to run at when the chips are down.
QUITE A BRIDE looked to be well on her way to victory in the Distaff Turf Mile when she changed back to her wrong lead in deep stretch. That slight loss of momentum may have cost her the photo finish, and she has a history of losing focus in the stretch. At times, she drifts out in the lane, and loses valuable ground in the process. Quite a Bride has good early speed, but may face some pace pressure from RICH FANTASY and AUNT HENNY. The latter is talented, but has an annoying tendency to get rank in the early stages of her races. She should be ready to rumble in the second start following a layoff line if able to relax leaving the gate.
MAGNIFICENT SONG disappointed as the favorite against Quite a Bride and Rich Fantasy, but it was her first race of the year, and she may have been a tad short over that yielding course. The Grade 1 winner goes out for the always-dangerous Pletcher/Velazquez team, and should be running late. She may be a bit of an underlay coming off two sub-90 Beyers.

Selections:
1. Danzon
2. Quite a Bride
3. Aunt Henny