Litfin's preview: Three E8's = lots o' speed

HONORABLE MISS: E8 x 3

Handicappers familiar with ground-breaking author William L. Quirin’s speed points recognize the term “E8,” which describes early speed horses with the maximum eight points.

There are three fillies with that designation in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap: La Verdad on the rail; R Free Roll in post 3; and the 3-year-old Red Velvet in post 4.

La Verdad has won her last eight starts at the Honorable Miss distance of six furlongs, including career-best 99 Beyer Figures from the one-hole in the Distaff and the Dancing Renee. However, she was quickly clear in those races, and whether she can shake off R Free Roll and Red Velvet remains to be seen.

By the same token, R Free Roll has posted three triple-digit Beyers, but all of those have come when loose on the lead at Calder. Moreover, she has never put such efforts back to back, which she will have to do here for new trainer Danny Gargan.

Red Velvet has been clear on the lead in all four of her starts this year, and it’s interesting that Todd Pletcher takes the blinkers off the City Zip filly, which suggests they may try to rate her just a bit from the outside.

The pace scenario has the potential to favor Calistoga, Merry Meadow, My Wandy’s Girl and Speedinthruthecity, whose only loss this year came in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff when steadied early on a speed-favoring track.

FIRST-TIME GELDINGS

Several horses on the card have been gelded since their last start and may improve off their prior form:

Point Hope (race 1): Battled for the lead and was still right there after 1 1/8 miles in a longer route at Belmont on May 18.

Strueves Star (race 1): Idle since a mild rally finishing fourth on good turf June 11. Just missed in a muddy off-the-turf route three races back.

Speed Read (race 4): Dirt-only entrant makes first start since May 7, when he squandered a clear lead for the fourth time.

Shylock (race 4): Looms any price after finishing far back in four starts at Aqueduct.

Pulpit’s Legacy (race 6): Marylou Whitney homebred hesitated at the break and was taken up in his only outing, which was nearly 11 months ago in the slop here. He returns off a trainer change to Ian Wilkes.

Appealing Alex (race 6): Sidelined since losing his rider in the last race Kentucky Derby Day. He bears watching after breezing a half-mile in a bullet 47.60 seconds on July 18.

HORSES TO WATCH

LA MAJESTIQUE
Trainer: Tom Morley
Last race: July 26, 1st
Finish: 8th by 7
Beyer: 60

This 3-year-old maiden filly was buried in traffic along the inside through the entire stretch run second time out. Displayed a good late kick in debut prior to that.

SCAM
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Last race: July 26, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 9 1/4
Beyer: 76

Returned from a nine-month layoff in a salty preliminary allowance at six furlongs, this Phipps Stable homebred was off slowest, and was moving to contention nearing the quarter pole when forced to await racing room, finishing with interest thereafter. Wants more ground.