Santa Monica

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Fillies and mares square off at seven furlongs in Sunday’s $250,000 Santa
Monica H. (G1) and the one to beat is ISLAND FASHION (Petionville). The
five-year-old mare captured this event last year and has run her best races at
Santa Anita (5-3-2-0), but we’ll try to beat her at short odds with the
presently sharp TIZAKITTY (Distinctive Cat), who comes off a nice one-length
score in the 6 1/2-furlong Kalookan Queen H. earlier this month.

Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Tizakitty has finished off the board only once in
her career, owns a 2-1-2 mark from five starts at Santa Anita and will be making
her graded bow here. The improving four-year-old owns tremendous BRIS Early Pace
numbers and should flash to the front with jockey Garrett Gomez when the gates open. Tizakitty looks like the speed of the speed and could shake free early. We’ll
look for her to spring an upset (15-1 on morning line) in wire-to-wire fashion.

Island Fashion is extremely versatile. She captured both the Santa Monica and
La Brea S. (G1) at seven furlongs last season and finished an excellent second
in the 10-furlong Santa Anita H. (G1) against males. The gray mare made an
unsuccessful trip to Japan last summer but bounced back well when returning to
action with a win in October’s Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). Island
Fashion wrapped up 2004 with a fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and a
fourth in the grassy Matriarch S. (G1). We wouldn’t be surprised to see her
return with a strong performance, but Island Fashion could be a little
vulnerable at short odds.

SALT CHAMP (Arg) (Salt Lake) was a classy runner in Argentina, winning three
Group 1 events, and will make her U.S. debut with new conditioner Richard
Mandella. The five-year-old mare shows a good worktab in the mornings and is
very adept at middle distances. Salt Champ appears to own good tactical speed
and could be a factor from just off the pace. We’ll use her on the bottom of the
exotics.

ROYALLY CHOSEN (In Excess [Ire]) could challenge for a top three placing.
Trained by Bruce Headley, the seven-year-old mare is extremely consistent and
ended last season with a commendable second in the Bayakoa H. (G2). The speedy bay
should be up close tracking the front-runners and could hang around a long way.

TAMWEEL (Gulch) does her best running on the front end but appears more
effective in routes. The chestnut really came on at the end of last year,
finishing second in the Spinster S. (G1) prior to a close fourth in the
Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see her enjoy another
fine season at five. However, we’ll look for more from her following this
sprint. RESPLENDENCY (Tale of the Cat) comes off a nice win in the Monrovia H.
and is two-for-three over this track. The four-year-old lass may continue to show
more for trainer Bob Baffert this season, but we’ll watch to see how she handles
graded foes.

IRGUNETTE (Aus) (Irgun) finished a decent second when trying the main track
in the off-the-turf Dahlia H. (G3) last out, but she’s probably better on the
sod. PLATINUM PRINCESS (Wolf Power [SAf]) will try seven furlongs for the first
time and faces a steep class check. Her last start was a win in the mud against
optional claiming rivals at Golden Gate Fields, and she’ll likely find this
company too difficult. BORN TO DANCE (Service Stripe) ran only twice last year
and didn’t show much in those efforts. She’s hard to recommend.

YEARLY REPORT (General Meeting) was cross-entered this weekend and wound up
running in the Sunshine Millions Distaff on Saturday.