San Luis Rey

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sunday’s 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey H. (G2) attracted defending champion METEOR
STORM (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]) and the Wally Dollase-trained six-year-old looks
difficult to deny. He got very good last spring, stringing together three
straight stakes wins, including the Manhattan H. (G1) at Belmont Park, before
being forced to the sidelines after bleeding in July’s United Nations S. (G1).

Meteor Storm returned to the races with a superb showing in the Frank E.
Kilroe Mile H. (G1) last out, closing a ton of ground in the stretch to be a
close fourth and earning a 111 BRIS Speed rating. The distance was clearly too
short for the bay horse as Meteor Storm relishes marathon distances, and he owns
three wins over the Santa Anita course. Regular rider Jose Valdivia Jr. has the
mount.

EPICENTRE (Kris S.) can show much more than he did last time over the main
track. His turf form was solid last year, including a Grade 3 score at this
distance, and the six-year-old could continue to show much more this
season for trainer Bobby Frankel. He’s shown a powerful late kick, and Epicentre
also owns the tactical speed to sit close to a moderate pace before striking.
We’ll look for him to complete the exacta.

CONTINENTAL RED (Flying Continental) could challenge for the top three. The
late-running nine-year-old didn’t like a sloppy main track in his last start,
but he ran well two starts back when closing fast to finish only 2 1/2 lengths
short in the Sunshine Millions Turf. While he doesn’t win often, Continental Red
has recorded 10 in-the-money finishes from 17 attempts over the course, and he
seems to run his best at longer distances. He’s appealing for the bottom of the
exotics at long odds.

STAR OVER THE BAY (Cozzene) will show the way early and brings stellar form
into this event, winning four of his last five starts, including the Sunshine
Millions Turf last out, in front-running fashion. Jockey Tyler Baze is scheduled
to travel back from Dubai for the mount and will take the field as far as he can
aboard the gray gelding, but 12 furlongs probably isn’t Star Over the Bay’s best
distance. His speed remains dangerous, so consider for all exotics. French
import KURM (Ire) (Grand Lodge) makes his U.S. bow for Frankel and bears
watching, but he drew the far outside post and hasn’t raced in 302 days. The
Group 3-placed four-year-old has captured four of his last five starts, and we
wouldn’t be surprised to see him ready to run off the extended layoff for his
Hall of Fame conditioner.

T. H. APPROVAL (With Approval) likes a route of ground and has shown promising
form in his last four turf starts (2-1-1), including a third-place finish in the
San Marcos S. (G2). The gray four-year-old figures to sit a good trip with his
tactical speed, which could parlay itself into a top three finish. BALESTRINI
(Ire) (Danehill) will show speed under Mike Smith and comes off a nice optional
claiming win at the distance. He’s never proven himself at this level, but the
Neil Drydale trainee owns room for improvement and could remain in the mix a
long way.

STANLEY PARK (Swain [Ire]) probably needed his first start off a lengthy
layoff and showed more in his last outing, finishing third in a nine-furlong
allowance, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Grade 3 winner keep improving
for trainer John Shirreffs. However, we’ll just watch for now. GORYLLA (Brz) (New
Colony) showed class in Brazil a couple of seasons ago, but his U.S. record is too
disappointing for us to recommend his chances here. FREDDY (Arg) (Roy) also owns
back class, but he needs to improve significantly off his last three starts to
be a factor. CALIFORNIAN (GB) (Zafonic) probably needs an easier spot to be
competitive.