Santa Ana

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A smart field of seven fillies and mares are entered in the $150,000 Santa
Ana H. (G2) over the sod at Santa Anita on Sunday. Trainer Bobby Frankel appears
to be holding the best cards in this one with a pair of outstanding runners, and
we’ll side with one from his barn.

BARANCELLA (Fr) (Acatenango) was among the best of her division last year,
importing from Europe to be a close second in both the Garden City Breeders’ Cup
H. (G1) and Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1). Owned by Gary
Tanaka, the chestnut was also competitive against some of the top sophomore
fillies in her native land and should have no problem with this nine-furlong
trip. We are always a bit cautious with horses facing elders for the first time
at four, but we feel this lass will be more than up to the task here. Pat
Valenzuela will pilot the French bred.

MEGAHERTZ (GB) (Pivotal) will make her six-year-old bow for Frankel in
this one. The last time we saw this small but courageous mare, she was finishing
a close second in the Hollywood Turf Cup S. (G1) versus the boys at 12 furlongs.
The chestnut crossed the line first in this race last year, but was disqualified for
interference, and is a logical choice to do the same on Sunday. If she’s fully
cranked for this affair, it’s her race to lose.

HOH BUZZARD (Ire) (Alhaarth) is the likely pacesetter in here and with the
number of deep closers in here, she may find herself on the lead for a long
time. The Ben Cecil trainee comes off a visually impressive tally in the Brown
Bess H. at Golden Gate, and has worked well over the local lawn to prepare for
this one. A live exotics threat who can take it all if the top pair don’t fire.

STUPENDOUS MISS (Dynaformer) looked superb in her U. S. debut last month,
pulling away to a hand-ridden two length win over allowance foes for Wally
Dollase. The dark bay did it over a yielding surface and should find
some moisture in the surface for today, making her an intriguing exotics threat.
These aren’t allowance foes in here, though, and she’s likely to be overbet, so we’ll
restrict her use to the bottom of gimmicks.

BELLE ANGE (Fr) (Ganges) has been a hard luck horse of late, as the late
runner has found herself in three spots with no pace to run at. The lass tracked
a loose leader last time and was a good second, and it’s likely she’ll have to
chase a clear leader once again. The dark bay has never beaten this type and
would do well to earn a placing. KATDOGAWN (GB) (Bahhare) should offer a threat in the exotics, but is yet
another closer in a race full of them. The bay can’t match strides with some of
these late, but she’ll need a well-timed move to be a factor late. Not out of
the question, but we prefer on the lowest rungs of exotics.

VALENTINE DANCER (In Excess [Ire]) defended her title in the Sunshine
Millions Filly and Mare Turf most recently and has since been shipped back to
the Golden State to try graded company for trainer Craig Lewis. The bay has some
tactical speed, which should keep her in striking range turning for home, but we
have trouble endorsing a mare who’s racked up more than 4,000 frequent flyer
miles in the past two months. That kind of trip wears us out, and we feel that
it will do the same for her.