El Conejo

An overflow field of 13 is entered in Monday’s $100,000 El Conejo H. (G3) at
Santa Anita, with only 12 able to make the final cut. JET WEST (Western Fame)
comes into this 5 1/2-furlong affair off three consecutive victories since
being claimed by trainer Ted West. The last two of those wins came over this
same surface. The five-year-old bay earned triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings for
each of those contests and looks to do well here under Kent Desormeaux.

WITH DISTINCTION (Storm Cat) has done no worse than fourth in his last seven
outings, picking up two wins in that span and earning century-topping Speed
figures in six of those. The last one came against allowance company in his
previous race, winning easily over Turfway Park’s Polytrack. Trainer D. Wayne
Lukas has this five-year-old ready — the dark bay drilled four furlongs here on
Christmas Eve in :47 1/5. Victor Espinoza will ride.

STONE RAIN (Grindstone) has good early speed, a trait which could prove
beneficial over a track which has favored speed at the shorter distances. The
John Sadler-conditioned gray has weakened in his last three outings, and the cut
in distance might be favorable to the five-year-old. Stone Rain could be
rejuvenated here after a nine-month layoff. Jon Court has the call.

Although mainly a turf horse, SLEW’S PRINCE (Slew’s Royalty) has had mild
success on the main track, compiling a 1-4-2 record from 10 starts on the outer
oval. Although he has not raced for nearly 14 months, he had earned brilliant BRIS E1 and E2 figures
in 2004 and should be kept in
mind for the exotics.

EXCESS SUMMER (In Excess [Ire]) will be making his first start for trainer
Bob Hess, Jr. Entering this race off a 10-month layoff, the six-year-old gelding has been working nicely in the mornings,
turning in a sharp :47 2/5 work on Tuesday. Despite not having been tested for
class lately, Excess Summer could make a decent showing. MOON MISSION (Apollo)
has good late speed which may come in handy if we see a speed duel develop in
the early going. JUNGLE PRINCE (Sir Cat) is another one with a good late kick,
earning a BRIS Late Pace figure of 111 last time out. A repeat performance
could place him in the gimmicks.

MIGHTY BEAU (Rainbow Prospect) is another turf specialist who has had some
success on the dirt, going 3-2-1 in seven starts. However, the seven-year-old
gelding has only been a shell of his former self lately, and we will pass on this
round. FUSAICHI ROCK STAR (Wild Wonder) comes back on short rest off a poor
13th-place effort in last Monday’s Malibu S.
(G1), never really a factor. His last victory was over an off track in the San
Vicente S. (G2) at Santa Anita earlier this year, but we will bet against here. GRAY BLACK N
WHITE (Quiet American) is a confirmed front-runner who risks tiring before he
hits the finish line in this company.

SHADOW OF ILLINOIS (Illinois Storm) might fair better returning to the dirt,
but has not had too much success over this track. RED WARRIOR (Benchmark),
coming off an eight-month layoff, had
not been putting up the numbers needed to compete in this one. SCOTTY’S LADD
(Red) is the lone also-eligible. Although he is unbeaten in only two career
starts, both at Santa Anita, he likely needs more race experience to make an
impact in this one.