OCEANPORT, N.J. -- Rahys' Appeal embarked on an ambitious program this year that included a trip to California, where she placed in a pair of graded stakes.
The 5-year-old New York-bred mare looks for her first victory in four starts this season Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Eatontown Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Monmouth Park.
This could be her time to shine after a pair of Grade 1 races and two Grade 2 stakes.
"I certainly hope so," said trainer Tom Bush. "She hasn't disappointed us this year. She deserves a good spot after we flew her across the country."
Rahys' Appeal faced two demanding challenges at Santa Anita and acquitted herself well in both.
She ran second to Citronnade in the Grade 2 San Gorgonio Handicap on the turf on Jan. 7, and followed that with a third behind Sugar Shake on the main track in the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap on Feb. 10.
Next stop: Oaklawn Park and a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 7.
Back home at last, Rahys' Appeal was third in the Grade 2 Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park on May 19.
"I had contemplated the turf before that last start, but we wound up in a short field on the dirt," Bush said of the six-horse Shuvee.
Now it's back to the grass for the Eatontown.
"I am really happy to get her back on the turf," Bush said. "Although her turf numbers don't stand out, I do believe she is better on turf. She's had some bad luck on the turf."
Rahys' Appeal is 2-3-2 in 11 grass races.
This will be her second straight Eatontown appearance. She was second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Brunilda, in last year's race, which came off the turf and was transferred to the sloppy main track.
Karen's Caper makes her season debut here for trainer Bobby Frankel. She started her career in Europe, with her best effort coming in the 2005 Group 1 Coronation Stakes at York, where she missed by a nose.
She is 1-3-0 in six starts in the U.S., with the victory coming in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup Handicap last September at Belmont.
Pommes Frites also makes her season debut for trainer Bill Mott. Her last race was a pacesetting third in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes last November at Hollywood Park.
Pommes Frites won five races last year, including Grade 3 victories in the Beaugay Handicap at Aqueduct and the Athenia Handicap at Belmont.
Completing the field are Redaspen, Roshani, Royal Pleasure, and Prop Me Up.
Crank It Up: Changeisgonnacome back on turf
Changeisgonnacome shifts back to the turf and finds a softer spot in the $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Trained by Michael Trombetta at Laurel, Changeisgonnacome raced in Grade 2 stakes in her last two outings, including a third last time out in the Nassau County Breeders' Cup Stakes at Belmont on May 5.
Deep Dish Wildcat, third here in the Just Smashing Stakes last month, makes her turf debut for trainer Ben Perkins Jr.
Undefeated Cable Boy works
The unbeaten Cable Boy was clocked in 1:42 for a mile workout Thursday morning. Both of his starts have come at this meet, and he set the track record for a mile and 70 yards last time out.
The latest drill keeps him on target for Monmouth's $60,000 Coronado's Quest Stakes, the first of two 3-year-old stakes at Monmouth leading to the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 5.
"He went fantastic," said trainer Pat McBurney. "He's training and acting great."