Will fast pace be there for Josh's Madelyn?

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - If the pace is right, Josh's Madelyn will be in full flight through the stretch in Saturday's $50,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park.

The six-furlong race for fillies and mares is the feature on the second day of the meet and drew a field of six. Others in the race include More Moonlight, Timeless Dreamer, and True Tails.

is a powerful closer. She comes into the American Beauty off a sweeping, 3 1/4-length win in the $60,000 Pan Zareta, a six-furlong overnight stakes run at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs on the New Orleans Handicap undercard Jan. 7.

"She came home well," said her trainer, Larry Jones.

Jones is hoping for honest fractions up front Saturday, and he could get his wish thanks to the presence of quick fillies such as True Tails, a stakes winner making her first start since May, and True Kiss, who shows some sharp works for her first start since November.

"That's what is so important for her, and it is with so many horses with her style," said Jones. "Pace makes the race. That's just what you've got to hope happens. If they go fast on the front end, she usually can capitalize."

Josh's Madelyn is the class of the American Beauty field. She has earnings of $390,309 and 8 wins in 24 starts, including the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland in 2004. A 5-year-old by Quiet American, she will be ridden by Terry Thompson.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has won three of the last five runnings of the American Beauty, and More Moonlight could add to that total Saturday. She shortens up to a sprint and returns to the main track, the site of her biggest wins, after routing on turf in a restricted stakes last out at Aqueduct.

shows a half-mile breeze in 51.20 seconds at Oaklawn on Jan. 16 in preparation for the American Beauty, her first start here since she won the $50,000 Dixie Belle on opening weekend last year. More Moonlight has tactical speed, and, in her first start since November, she could be somewhat close to the pace Saturday.

Luis Quinonez has the mount on More Moonlight, who races for Vinery Stables.

Immune to Gloom put four straight wins together last year for trainer Tim Ritchey and sharpened her skills for the American Beauty with a bullet four-furlong drill in 47.20 on Jan. 15. She will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche.