Pace Could Prove Crucial in Humana

When Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast) is allowed to have her way up front, she's awful tough to run down. The last-out GII Inside Information S. heroine will look to take them as far as she can in Churchill's GI Humana Distaff S., but she'll have some heavy hitters coming for her in the lane. Fifth behind Wavell Avenue (Harlington) and Taris (Flatter) after failing to make the front in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint last October, the grey finished second–one slot ahead of You Bought Her (Graeme Hall)–after early trouble in Gulfstream's GIII Sugar Swirl S. on the day after Christmas. She found herself back on the lead in the Miami Shores H. in Hallandale on Valentine's Day, and aired by five lengths before pairing up 96 Beyers going box-to-wire in the Mar. 19 Inside Information.

Wavell Avenue and Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) exit third and fourth-place finishes, respectively, in Keeneland's GI Madison S. Apr. 9. The former really came on at the end of last season, and was beaten just a half-length by eventual Eclipse champion La Verdad (Yes It's True) in Belmont's GII Gallant Bloom H. Sept. 26 when turning in a career-best effort. Dismissed at 10-1 at the Breeders' Cup, she uncorked a powerful rally in between rivals to defeat La Verdad by 1 3/4 lengths. She figures to improve second off the bench after coming on late behind MGISW Sheer Drama (Burning Roma) and Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) in an absolutely stacked running of the Madison.

Birdatthewire annexed last year's GII Forward Gal S. and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks en route to a fifth-place run in the GI Kentucky Oaks. She resurfaced to finish off the board against older rivals in the local GII Chilukki S. Nov. 27 and GII Fall City H. 19 days later, but cut back to this distance and shipped across the country to upset the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26. Transferred to Tom Proctor for her next three outings, she was second to Taris in Santa Anita's 1 1/16-mile GII La Canada S. Jan. 16, and fifth in the GII Santa Maria S. over the same distance Feb. 13. She ran sneaky-well in the Madison to be beaten only a length by Wavell Avenue despite rallying from farther back and covering more ground. According to Trakus data, she traveled an extra 34 ft.–about four lengths–more than the Breeders' Cup champ. Dale Romans has again taken over training duties on the Forum Racing IV representative.

The versatile Taris was in tight on the rail in the Breeders' Cup, but bounced back to score in Aqueduct's one-mile GIII Go For Wand H. Nov. 27. A 5 1/4-length romper in the La Canada, she was second at 9-10 odds in the GI Santa Margarita S. over a nine-furlong trip that is probably a bit farther than she'd prefer.