Appleby’s Just A Game Top Two Look for Encore in Diana

[Wandering Eyes]

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin raided New York to run one-two in last month's GI Longines Just A Game S. at Belmont and they'll try for a reprise of that accomplishment when running both horses back in a Euro-heavy renewal of the GI Diana S. Saturday at Saratoga.

Homebred Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) began her career with three wins in four tries before running second in both the G3 Prix de Lieurey and G3 Bet365 Sceptre S. to close her 3-year-old campaign. Resurfacing Jan. 28 at Meydan, the gray bested males in the G2 Cape Verdi and was third in the G2 Balanchine S. there Feb. 18 behind stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). She got her revenge, however, when rallying along the rail to overhaul that rival in the closing stages of the Just A Game.

Summer Romance romped by six lengths in the Random Health Empress S. second out two summer ago at Newmarket and was third in the G3 Shadwell Dick Poole S. in her juvenile finale two starts later at Salisbury. Upsetting the G3 Investec Princess Elizabeth S. second off the bench last July at Epsom, she was off the board in her next two before annexing the Balanchine. The speedster ran admirably to be second in the Just A Game, setting a quick pace from which her nearest pursuers retreated to sixth, ninth and 10th, and she figures to be alone on the lead again here.

Given a slight preference on the morning line at 5-2 is Peter Brant's Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass). No better than fourth in her first two outings, the dark bay then reeled off four straight victories culminating in a conquest of the G2 Kilboy Estate S. last summer at The Curragh. Drubbed by 33 1/2 lengths when 10th in the G2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford S., she was transferred from Ger Lyons to Chad Brown and was a strong second when closing into a slow pace making her Stateside debut in the GIII Beaugay S. May 8 at Belmont.

Getting the jump on her that day and holding on late was Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah), victress of last year's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland and a close third at 20-1 in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The Harvey Clarke homebred was unable to make an impact when fifth over boggy turf in the GII New York S. last out June 4 at Belmont. Same goes for Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who, prior to her seventh-place run in that event, was a sharp three-length victress in the GIII Sheepshead Bay S. and captured the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. last September.

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