Palos Verdes

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Santa Anita will host the 53rd
running of the Palos Verdes H. (G2) on Sunday. Eight will line up for the six-furlong event, including MCCANN’S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]), who exits off an
unplaced outing in the El Conejo H. (G3). Despite that performance, the five-year-old has
shown an affinity for the Arcadia, California, track as well as the distance,
having recorded four wins in six attempts at Santa Anita while perfect in two
tries at six furlongs. If the Leonard Dorfman pupil follows past form, he will
sit off the pace while the leaders duel it out up front. This
could prove to be a winning strategy. David Flores has the call.

STONE RAIN (Grindstone) weakened in the stretch drive of the Malibu S. (G1)
last out and came home a disappointing sixth after setting the first two
fractions. He cuts back a furlong and has two wins in four attempts at Santa
Anita.
Although the John Sadler charge does not have vast experience against graded
company, he owns some excellent BRIS E2 Pace figures which should put him up near the
top of the pack in the end. Jockey Tyler Baze has six wins over the past two weeks
and has another good chance here.

TASTE OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo) comes off a 49-day layoff from an
upset win in the Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) where the Gary Mandella trainee
nosed out a victory at 26-1, earning a 106 BRIS Speed figure, the highest of his
career. He will most likely leave the gates at slightly smaller odds here, but
should fare well if he is able to put up a repeat performance of the Underwood,
despite a less than perfect 0-4 record at Santa Anita. Jose Valdivia Jr. will
be in the irons.

Although HOMBRE RAPIDO (Falstaff) possesses the best early Speed figures in
the field, he has only been able to stay out front in three of his 17 six-furlong
tries. This habit will lead us to bet against. However, he should still be able
to grab part of the exotics. This is the second of Sadler’s
uncoupled entries and will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.

PERFECT MOON (Malibu Moon) exits off a close fourth in the Malibu, beaten
only by a half-length. The cut back in distance should be an advantage here, as
the Doug O’Neill charge has shown success at the shorter distances. SAINT AFLEET
(Northern Afleet) has turned in some respectable performances for trainer Jeff
Mullins. The bay colt has three wins in five starts at Sunday’s distance and may
play a part in the end.

WOKE UP DREAMIN (Holy Bull) placed a decent third in the El Conejo in his
first try against stakes company. The Bob Baffert charge has the ability to put
in a good outing, but he has not consistently been able to turn in high quality
performances so we’ll let him beat us here. BLUESTHESTANDARD (American Standard)
comes off an ninth-place trip in the El Conejo after a slow break and no
response in the end. He will need a better trip to compete here.