Las Palmas

A field of eight has been entered in Sunday’s $150,000 Las Palmas H. (G2) at
Santa Anita and we’re going with FENCELINENEIGHBOR (Wild Rush) to come out on
top in the nine-furlong turf test.

Trained by Michael Machowsky, the four-year-old miss will stretch back out to
her preferred distance, over which she’s won two of three starts. She has yet to
win this season, but has been close in her past two and has been working well to
prepare for this one. Fencelineneighbor could earn her first win of 2004 here at
a nice price. Jose Valdivia Jr. has the call.

THEATER R. N. (Theatrical [Ire]) has captured three of four lifetime starts
and will be making her stakes debut here. Though she hasn’t raced more for than
three months, the Bobby Frankel-trained four-year-old won off the layoff in her
last one and could surprise here at a nice price. Rene Douglas will be in the
saddle.

GOOD STUDENT (Arg) (Louis Quatorze) scored in an optional claimer at Del Mar
in September before finishing fourth in the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) most recently.
The bay miss has posted some nice BRIS Late Pace ratings since shipping
stateside and will challenge for the win under Mike Smith.

HOH BUZZARD (Ire) (Alhaarth) will be making only her second start of the year
in this one and could show enough improvement to take her second victory. MISS
LOREN (Arg) (Numerous) owns some of the better numbers for this field, but the
six-year-old mare has spent most of her career on the dirt. However, she has won
on the turf in the past and will threaten in the top three.

NAVAJA (NZ) (Daggers Drawn) doesn’t show quite the same speed as others in
here, but the dark bay four-year-old is consistent enough to include in the
exotics. URAIB (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) scored in the Hillsborough H. most
recently and rates our sleeper from off the pace. LOTS OF HOPE (Brz) (Candy
Stripes) is making only her second start in the United States here and might
need one more before facing these.