1.) ROYAL MOTIONS (8-1): She was a hard-trying second in the Las Damas Handicap but still finished one length behind Strength In Numbers, who was well in hand throughout. Also, only .11 covered the second through fifth-place finishers. She is drawn inside the high-strung My Lady First which makes for an uncomfortable situation from post one.
2.) MISS KITTYS BAR BET (30-1): She is one of the least likely contenders. She has never won beyond 350 yards and has never run 400 yards faster than 19.56. Four of her foes have covered this distance in 19.49 or faster.
3.) ANSWER THE DREAM (8-1): She must be considered for exotics consideration. She has not come away quickly in her lat three outings and was bounced around solidly soon after the start before showing late run when sixth in a Southern California Derby trial five weeks ago. She barely missed second in the Los Alamitos Super Derby two outs ago when facing 2008 Champion Of Champions qualifiers One Famous Eagle and Stylish Jess BR.
4.) STRENGTH IN NUMBERS (6-5): She looks like a standout based on her easy one-length comeback win in the Las Damas Handicap where she beat three of her Charger Bar opponents. She came down with colic after unleashing a devastating late surge to beat the opposite sex in the 2007 Los Alamitos Championshp 13 months earlier. A mare who normally breaks slow, she came away on top in the 400-yard Las Damas victory. Unless she breaks slow and loses her path, she should cruise to victory.
5.) WHAT A PERFORMANCE (12-1): She won this race in 2007 but is normally most effective at distances ranging from 220-350 yards. Her last two wins came at 220 yards vs. conditioned allowance distaff fields. She is quick from the gate but it is unlikely she can match strides late with Strength In Numbers.
6.) SPANISH CARTEL (30-1): She appears the biggest longshot in this field. Her four lifetime wins have come at 300 yards and she has never been closer than fourth in three 400-yard outings.
7.) BLAZIN FIRE (8-1): The 2007 AQHA champion aged mare never found the same form during a disappointing 2008 campaign. Her only win in five starts came in the Merial California Region Distaff Challenge vs. a weak field last August. She was part of a three-way photo for second when finishing a head behind Royal Motions in the Las Damas Handicap from the rail.
8.) TERRIFIC ENERGY (4-1): She appears the main threat for Strength In Numbers. The rapidly-improving four-year-old mare finished with a terrific late surge to score a head win when posting the fastest qualifying time of 19.47 for the Southern California Derby five weeks ago. However, she bled through the lasix and was scratched from the derby finals when still on the vets list at the time of the Southern California Derby entries.
9.) JUST DASH (10-1): She had no major excuses when having a clear path throughout in her last fifth-place finish behind Strength In Numbers in the Las Damas Handicap which marked her first try at 400 yards. She has won six of nine starts, though, and likes an outside post. The distance is the big questions.
10.) PRISSY B PANTHER (12-1): She broke slow from the rail post when fifth as the 4-5 favorite in a recent 220-yard allowance contest. She has run well at this 400-yard distance before but her lone win last year came in a 220-yard overnight handicap.
