San Gorgonio

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eleven fillies and mare are set to battle in the $150,000 San Gorgonio H.
(G3) Saturday at Santa Anita on the main track. The 1 1/8-mile contest brings
together a good combination of speed and stalkers which should result in a good
showing. An impediment to the race is the five inches of rain expected to fall
in the area this weekend, forcing Santa Anita officials to take the race off the
grass. A move from the turf will not only result in a grade drop, but most likely
a series of scratches as well.

Las Palmas H. (G2) victress THEATER R. N. (Theatrical [Ire]) looks to be in
the driver’s seat. Coming off a two-month layoff since winning the Las Palmas,
the Bobby Frankel trainee has a 3-2-0-0 line at Santa Anita, with all three starts
coming at Saturday’s distance. The five-year-old mare put in some nice closing
speed last out, posting a 121 BRIS Late Pace rating. With four horses in the
field looking to set the early pace, this late speed will most likely be an
advantage in the end. Rene Douglas is back to repeat his performance from the Las
Palmas.

URAIB (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) is coming off a win versus stakes company
last out when the five-year-old mare took the Hermosa Beach H. at Hollywood. The
Sanford Shuman charge finished second to Theater R. N. twice in their two
meetings against each other. Uraib owns one victory at 1 1/8-miles, coming at
Santa Anita in March against optional claiming foes. Jon Court, who has ridden
to the winner’s circle six times in the past week, will have the reins.

SHEZSOSPIRITUAL (Fly Till Dawn) is making her first start for trainer Tim
Yakteen. The five-year-old chestnut looks to go to the lead early and possesses
the talent to fight it out when it comes to the finish line. On top of this, the
mare has experience on an off track, placing second in March of 2003 at the
Arcadia, California, oval on a track listed as wet-fast. Tyler Baze has the
call.

MEGAHERTZ (GB) (Pivotal) exits off a close second in
the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) to Pellegrino (Brz) (Nugget Point [Ire]) in her first start since
finishing a disappointing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).
The six-year-old possesses nice finishing speed, including a 121 Late Pace three
back in the Gamely Breeders’ Cup H. (G1), powering home but coming up short in
the end by a length. She is untested off the turf, however, so a switch to the
main track could hinder her abilities.

FENCELINENEIGHBOR (Wild Rush) is not stranger to the main track. She has two
starts under her belt on a track less than perfect, winning one. She has also run
in the money six times in 10 starts on a track listed as fast. Her only
hindrance is her record at Santa Anita, in which she has only landed on the board
once in four starts.

HOH BUZZARD (Ire) (Alhaarth) exits from the Matriarch S. (G1) and a
fifth-place finish. If the five-year-old is able to stay near the front of the
pack, she could get up for part, although the talented closers sitting off the
pace will make that difficult if she finds herself in a speed duel in the early
parts of this race. DOLLY WELLS (Arg) (Poliglote [GB]) would have been making
her first start on the North American sod. The rain will keep her on the
main track, where she has performed well in her past five starts since moving
north from Argentina. A dual stakes winner in her homeland, her last four starts
in the United States have all produced runs in the money.

PENNY’S FORTUNE (Storm Cat) is coming off a two-month layoff
after holding on to win the Audrey Skirball-Kenis S. The four-year-old filly has
three starts under her belt on a fast track, but has never run on an off track.
Despite this, she has landed on the board twice out of four attempts at Santa
Anita and is 1-1-0-0 at 1 1/8-miles on the turf. ASK FOR THE MOON (Fr) (Dr Fong) will be making
her North American debut in this one, as well as her first dirt start. The
four-year-old filly was on a five-race win streak before finishing a
disappointing seventh last out. Victories in her streak include the Saint-Alary
(Fr-G1) and Prix Penelope (Fr-G3). She will be coming off a six-month layoff here and
will also try Lasix for the first time.

DROUGHT BREAKER (Steinlen [GB]) has 10 starts on the main track, landing on
the board in eight of them. Despite this, her BRIS Speed ratings are well below
the average and her front-running style, which has brought her success in the
past, could hurt her here. NAVAJA (NZ) (Daggers Drawn) came home 31 lengths back
last out in the Dahlia H. (G3) at Hollywood and is will probably be outclassed
in this one.