Gallant Bloom Handicap Entries: Musical Romance, Turbulent Descent prep for Breeders' Cup

The $200,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Belmont Park, could be mistaken for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint if one didn't know better. The 6-1/2 furlong sprint has drawn a fantastic field of ten, including Musical Romance, Turbulent Descent, and Emma's Encore.

Musical Romance stamped herself as a race mare of the highest caliber last year when she won the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with a decisive run along the inside. She was subsequently awarded the Eclipse award as the best filly sprinter in the country, and she doesn't seem to have lost anything this year. Last time out, she won the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) at Calder Race Course in game fashion, and figures to have an excellent shot at adding this race to her record as well.

Her main opposition may come from Turbulent Descent, winner of four grade I races including the Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) last time out. The beaten favorite in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, she enters this race in excellent form and may actually improve in her second start for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Emma's Encore, one of two three-year-olds in the field, enters this race off of consecutive victories in the Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) and Prioress Stakes (gr. I). Trained by Allen Jerkens, the filly possesses a terrific turn-of-foot, and if the early pace is sufficient, she may have the talent to pull off a mild upset.

Judy the Beauty, beaten a nose by Emma's Encore in the Prioress, is also entered and should be at her best while making her third start of the year.

Entries:

PP	Horse	Weight	Jockey	Trainer
1	Roman Treasure	115	Jose Lezcano	Michael Hushion
2	Island Bound	116	Edgar Prado	Ian Wilkes
3	Dust and Diamonds	114	Julien Leparoux	Steve Asmussen
4	Judy the Beauty	115	Joel Rosario	Wesley Ward
5	C C's Pal	119	Alan Garcia	Richard Dutrow, Jr.
6	Mildly Offensive	116	Christopher DeCarlo	Todd Pletcher
7	Emma's Encore	116	Rosie Napravnik	Allen Jerkens
8	Risky Rachel	114	Javier Castellano	Juan Coronel
9	Musical Romance	122	Juan Leyva	William Kaplan
10	Turbulent Descent	121	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher

-Keelerman

SWITCH WINS THE A GLEAM HANDICAP!

Favored Switch found her way back to the winner's circle for the first time since January 2011 when she charged past Sugarinthemorning to win the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) this afternoon at Betfair Hollywood Park by nearly two lengths.

Ridden to victory by Garrett Gomez, Switch settled into last place early on as Izzy Rules, American Lady, Mildly Offensive, Sugarinthemorning, and Teddy's Promise all vied for the early lead, with Glamorista several lengths back and ahead of only Switch.

Rounding the turn, Mildly Offensive gave way along the rail, and Sugarinthemorning moved up to challenge for command of the race. In the meantime, Switch was in the process of unleashing a powerful bid on the outside, a bid that would eventually carry her to a sharp victory.

Sugarinthemorning finished second, followed by Glamorista, American Lady, Teddy's Promise, Izzy Rules, and Mildly Offensive. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:24.37.

The winner is owned by C R K Stable and trained by John Sadler.

-Keelerman

A Gleam Handicap Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park. The seven-furlong sprint for fillies in mares is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), to be run later this year at Santa Anita Park. Thus, the A Gleam has drawn an exceptionally high-quality field of eight, led by grade I winners Switch and Teddy's Promise, twice grade I-placed Sugarinthemorning, and Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) winner Izzy Rules.

1 Mildly Offensive
2 Moonstruck Maya
3 Glamorista
4 Switch
5 Teddy's Promise
6 American Lady
7 Izzy Rules
8 Sugarinthemorning

-Keelerman

Humana Distaff Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I), to be run on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The prestigious seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares has drawn a super-talented field, led by multiple grade I-winning sprinter Switch, 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Musical Romance, last year's Humana winner Sassy Image, and Vinery Madison Stakes (gr. I) winner Groupie Doll.

1 Magical Feeling
2 Fantasy of Flight
3 Sassy Image
4 Salty Strike
5 Mildly Offensive
6 Groupie Doll
7 Switch
8 Musical Romance
9 Hot Summer

(Note: Be sure to check out our Kentucky Derby Handicapping Contest, in which one lucky handicapper will win a free copy of "The 10 Best Kentucky Derbies," published by Eclipse Press. Read the details here!)

-Keelerman