Attila seeks to take Palos Verdes by Storm

Attila’s Storm will try to start off the year in the winner’s circle (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Malibu S. (G1) runner-up ATTILA’S STORM (Forest Wildcat) will cut back to a
more favorable six furlongs and face six challengers in Saturday’s $150,000
Palos Verdes H. (G2) at Santa Anita. Trained by Richard Schosberg, the
four-year-old colt finished a fine fourth, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths, when
making his graded debut in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and captured the
six-furlong Fall Highweight H. in his next outing. In the seven-furlong Malibu,
Attila’s Storm took the lead into the stretch only to falter in the final eighth
of a mile. Pat Valenzuela will ride.

The Ted West-trained JET WEST (Western Fame) is a top threat. Winner of the
California Cup Sprint H. over the track two starts back, the five-year-old exits
a close third in the El Conejo H. (G3) and is six-for-10 at the distance. El
Conejo victor WITH DISTINCTION (Storm Cat), who will break from the rail for
trainer D. Wayne Lukas, has captured three of his last four outings.

The contestants, in post parade order with jockeys and weight assignments, are
With Distinction, Garrett Gomez, 117; Jet West, Corey Nakatani, 116; Attila’s
Storm, 119; STALKING TIGER (Twin Spires), Javier Santiago, 112; PAPA TO KINZIE
(Boston Harbor), Alex Bisono, 109; MAJOR SUCCESS (Mazel Trick), Tyler Baze, 114;
and GRAY BLACK N WHITE (Quiet American), Martin Pedroza, 114.