Arcadia

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Only six were entered for Saturday’s $150,000 Arcadia H. (G2) at Santa Anita,
but the mile-turf test features the likes of Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) hero
SINGLETARY (Sultry Song), Grade 1 winner SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul) and the
up-and-coming BUCKLAND MANOR (Bien Bien).

Of those three, we think Singletary will be the one getting his picture taken
in the winner’s circle at the end of the race. The Donald Chatlos Jr. trainee
will be making his second start here since his surprise score in the Breeders’
Cup last October. In his 2005 debut, the five-year-old ran seventh in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), but still posted a century-topping 125 BRIS E2 Pace figure
as well as a 107 BRIS Speed rating. Singletary really started to come on about
this time last year, taking the San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile H. (G2) before
a close second in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile S. (G1). Another big year
could start for the bay on Saturday. Alex Solis has the call.

Buckland Manor was sent off at 10-1 in the Kilroe for some odd reason,
finishing second in that contest, but
the Juan Paco Gonzalez charge will probably never be overlooked like that again.
He entered the Kilroe off two good wins over the course and distance, and had
previously run a close fifth in the Citation H. (G1). The chestnut five-year-old
also earned stellar numbers in the Kilroe (112 Speed, 125 E2 Pace) and will have
Rene Douglas back in the saddle. Buckland Manor will be hard to deny on
Saturday.

Sweet Return captured the 2004 Kilroe when it was a Grade 2 as part of a
three-race win streak that also comprised the Hollywood Derby (G1) and San
Marcos S. (G2). The five-year-old hasn’t been able to duplicate those victories
but looked close to his previous form when finishing a good third in the 2005
Kilroe last out. In that one, which was his first start off a five-month layoff,
the Ron McAnally-conditioned chestnut dueled with the pacesetter throughout and
probably didn’t have anything left for the finish. Sweet Return looks ready to
get back to his winning ways and will have Corey Nakatani aboard.

FAIL ME NOT (Arg) (Handsome Halo) came four wide and pulled away under a hand
ride to take the March Madness H. last out by 3 1/2 lengths. Trained by Mike
Mitchell, the six-year-old chestnut only earned a 95 Speed rating, but worked a
bullet five furlongs in :58 1/5 over Hollywood Park’s main track on March 20 to
prepare for this one. We wouldn’t be surprised if Fail Me Not threatened in the
stretch under Frankie Dettori.

SWEET STEPPER (Candy Stripes) will be making his first start here for trainer
Steven Knapp, who claimed the six-year-old gelding last out. A check is more
than possible in this small field, but Sweet Stepper just doesn’t look capable
of handling the top picks. RUNAWAY DANCER (Runaway Groom) hasn’t been able to
challenge against graded company in the past and doesn’t look to do so here,
either.