A dual Grade 1 winner, Gamine came up short over 1m1f at Churchill Downs last time. She’ll prove popular back over today’s trip but will be taken on for the lead by Serengeti Empress, who landed a Grade 1 at Saratoga with Come Dancing behind before coming out second-best in a fight to the line with Bell's The One at Churchill Downs. The latter will be closing at the finish again but that comment also applies to SPEECH, who messed up the start behind Gamine last time but beat subsequent Grade 2 winner Venetian Harbor three lengths when winning at the highest level here before that and is fancied to make another bold bid today.
Speech (USA) 11-2 (8-9) Troubled beginnings, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Shedaresthedevil (8-9) at Churchill Downs 1m 1f fll fst in Sep.
Gamine (USA) 7-10fav (8-9) Collared 3/16, yielded, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Shedaresthedevil (8-9) at Churchill Downs 1m 1f fll fst in Sep.
Come Dancing (USA) 13-10fav (8-10) Chased ins, prevailed, won at Saratoga 6f stks fst in Sep beating Lady's Island (8-6) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Sconsin (USA) 7-1 (8-6) 4w,engulfed foes, won at Churchill Downs 7f fll stks fst in Sep beating Four Graces (8-8) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Venetian Harbor (USA) 16-10fav (8-8) Ins,shook free1/4,held, won at Keeneland 7f stks fst in Oct beating Finite (8-8) by nk, 8 ran.
Serengeti Empress (USA) 9-5fav (8-11) Cracking pace,denied, 2nd of 7, shd behind Bell's The One (8-8) at Churchill Downs 7f fll stks fst in Sep.
Sally's Curlin (USA) 19-2 (8-8) Wheeled out, late gain, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Bell's The One (8-8) at Churchill Downs 7f fll stks fst in Sep.
Bell's The One (USA) 4-1 (8-8) Full bore, just up, won at Churchill Downs 7f fll stks fst in Sep beating Serengeti Empress (8-11) by shd, 7 ran.
Inthemidstofbiz (USA) 13-1 (8-8) Stalk 3w,bid5/16,drvng, won at Keeneland 6f stks fst in Oct beating Sneaking Out (8-10) by 3l, 7 ran.
