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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Although Sunday's $250,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) may not have much strength in depth, the 1 1/4-mile turf contest could yet unearth a top-quality performer who will make his mark on the division next season. Of the eight sophomores lining up, the one most likely to fit that profile is SEBASTIAN FLYTE (GB) (Observatory). Twice Group 3-placed as a juvenile for Irish trainer Francis Ennis, the chestnut was not disgraced when seventh in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) in May. Ennis then stepped him up in trip and pitched him in against older rivals for his next pair, resulting in a creditable fourth in the Silver S. at this distance at the Curragh and a solid third in the Nijinsky S. in his Irish finale. After joining Ben Cecil this summer, Sebastian Flyte made an auspicious American debut when capturing an optional claimer at Del Mar, but gained greater stature in defeat in the Oak Tree Derby (G2). Despite being held up in last off a dawdling pace, and still 6 1/2 lengths back at the eighth-pole, he flew home to miss by three-quarters of a length in fourth, and earned a 108 BRIS Late Pace rating. We believe that new rider Joel Rosario will take a more tactical approach, so Sebastian Flyte's late charge will come in plenty of time. New York shipper CITRUS KID (Lemon Drop Kid) nearly pulled off a front-running upset in the Jamaica H. (G1), only to be swamped in deep stretch by Prince Will I Am (Victory Gallop). Two starts back in the Saranac S. (G3), the John Terranova trainee stalked in third, appeared brimming with run when trying to get through along the inside in the stretch, but was shut off badly and forced into the hedge. Both efforts suggest that last year's promising juvenile is finally hitting his best stride. Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount aboard the dark bay, who figures to get a perfect trip either on or close to a soft pace. Like Sebastian Flyte, HAIMISH HY (Ecton Park) was another too far back early in the Oak Tree Derby, but rallied for fifth for trainer Art Sherman. The cheap yearling from a deep Argentinean family has yet to run a bad race this campaign, getting up for second in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) in February and returning from a six-month layoff to capture the El Cajon S. on Del Mar's Polytrack. Nor is he simply a synthetic animal, for he owns a two-for-three mark on the grass. We love the fact that Garrett Gomez has taken the call on the honest colt, and look for him to uncork late. Ordinarily we'd be cautious about a stakes debutante like JUNIPER PASS (Lemon Drop Kid) at this level, but since we're not that impressed by the rest of the field, and respect trainer Thomas Bell, we'll give this late-developing type a shot to crack the top three. The well-bred colt is the only contender with a victory at the 1 1/4-mile trip, accomplished right here in an optional claimer last out on November 7. Juniper Pass has been beaten by a couple of his Hollywood Derby rivals before, but his natural progression, coupled with the added ground, might help him to turn the tables. Regular rider Brice Blanc will be back aboard. FANTASTIC PICK (GB) (Fantastic Light) merits consideration in light of his hard-fought success in the Oak Tree Derby, and the reformed claimer is bred to go a fair deal farther than this. On the other hand, the James Lloyd pupil made the most of a textbook trip chasing the early crawl last time, a setup that could have flattered him. He had made little impression when fourth in the Del Mar Derby (G2) in his prior start, so we suspect that he might relapse to a more typical effort this time. BLUE PANIS (Fr) (Panis) had the run of the race in the Oak Tree Derby, yet couldn't hold off Fantastic Pick. We don't see him exacting revenge over another furlong. JAIRZIHNO (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) finished second in the Del Mar Derby, but has otherwise been well beaten in his stakes attempts. LION STORY (Wildcat Heir), who was third to Haimish Hy in the El Cajon, is ambitiously spotted off a third in an optional claimer in his turf bow.
Sunday's $100,000 Miesque S. (G3) at Hollywood Park attracted a field of seven juvenile fillies, and on paper the race should set up for a closer as there's a lot of speed here. Though she led gate-to-wire in breaking her maiden over this course and trip last time, NEVERSAIDIWASSWEET (Eurosilver) does not appear to be a need-the-lead type and we'll back her to make it two in a row. A narrowly beaten second in her Ellis Park debut when rallying off the pace, she threw in a clunker at that Kentucky course next time out before arriving in California. Under the tutelage of Kristin Mulhall, Neversaidiwassweet made all the running in an October 14 maiden to win by 1 1/4 lengths, beating next-out maiden breaker Family Plan (Repriced) in the process. With so much other speed breaking outside her, we envision Rafael Bejarano keeping her on the rail, saving ground and hoping they come back to her. This marks her debut for new trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Euro invader WAVE OF APPLAUSE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) won at first asking May 9 at Leopardstown in Ireland. Far up the track in the Albany S. (Eng-G3) at Royal Ascot next out, she has since been acquired by trainer Jim Cassidy, who often does well with imports. Though absent from the races for five months, we don't think she has to be a superstar to beat most of her rivals. Pedigree enthusiasts will note she traces back to Obeah (Cyane), the dam of Hall of Famer Go for Wand (Deputy Minister). CALIFORNIA NECTAR (Storm Atlantic), who has raced exclusively against California-bred company to this point, fits on form. She exits a nose loss in the California Cup Juvenile Fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, and given who her sire is we can see her transferring that form to grass. The speedy miss might be at a pace disadvantage, however, and might find it difficult to last for a major piece if under pressure from the start. CLONEYLASS (Ire) (Verglas [Ire]) was a modest third in the Jessamine S. at Keeneland in her U.S. debut and will need to elevate her game a bit to take this. She's obviously one who would benefit from a swifter pace than what she encountered in Kentucky. On an encouraging note, Jessamine runner-up Lauren Byrd (Arch) has since won a Churchill allowance impressively by 4 3/4 lengths. HOLIDAY FOR KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) is another front-running type who enters off a neck maiden victory under the Twin Spires. She could be up against it if she tangles early with KATY'S KITTY (Osidy) and LUCKY TRIPPI (Trippi), two speedballs who look overmatched based on their time spent in the maiden claiming ranks.
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