Monrovia E

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

ELUSIVE DIVA (Elusive Quality) highlights a field of 13 in Saturday’s
$100,000 Monrovia H. (G3) over about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s downhill
turf course. The four-year-old bay has excelled since switching to the grass this season, capturing three of five over
the turf and recording a close second in the Las Palmas H. (G2) to the Grade 1-winning Mea Domina (Dance Brightly)
in her last start. Trainer Mark Glatt has Elusive Diva sharp
for this one and she should prove tough to beat under Patrick Valenzuela.

Despite having never run on the green, RESPLENDENCY (Tale of the Cat) owns
good front-running speed, an attribute which is lacking from this field. Given a
good trip up front by jockey Alex Solis, the four-year-old could come up with a
victory for conditioner Bob Baffert. Resplendency captured this event a year ago
when it was taken off the turf due to sloppy conditions and, given the rainy
forecast, it’s possible that this year’s Monrovia may wind up being transferred
to the main track again.

CHASETHEGOLD (Touch Gold) has not seen the winner’s circle since defeating
allowance company in June of 2004, but has shown promise lately, hitting the
wire second in the Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3) two back. The five-year-old
chestnut mare does well at this distance and is a credible threat at what should
be a good price. Garrett Gomez rides.

GUIDEBOOK (Notebook) will be facing a class check, but is still one to
watch. The five-year-old mare has won her last two, both over this same course
and distance, and she could grab part for trainer Steve Knapp. David Cohen has the
call.

BENEFICIAL BARTOK (Bartok [Ire]) exits a nice score in the Queen of the Green
H. at Turf Paradise, earning a 104 BRIS E2 Pace rating in that effort. The
gray miss has a 2-1-1 record over Santa Anita’s grass from seven starts. She picks
up Corey Nakatani and should be kept in mind for the
gimmicks. GETTHEPARTYSTARTED (Game Plan) has produced three victories from six starts
over this course, but will be facing tougher company here than she has in the
past. Despite the step up, the five-year-old is established at the Monrovia
distance and could hit the board at high odds.

RED TOP (Ire) (Faliyev) comes off
a close fourth in the Miss America H., losing by just three parts of a length.
She’s a threat to get up for part with a good late run. ALLSWELLTHATNSWELL (Perfect Mandate) has proven successful at shorter
distances in the past, but could be overmatched here. AWESOME LADY (Bianconi)
can’t be recommended with her poor record on the turf.

LASKIA (GB) (Pursuit of
Love) has placed eighth in both her North American starts, including the Del Mar
Oaks (G1) in her first start in August. She could do a little better
here, but we will still go against. ROYAL LIVERPOOL (Gulch) hasn’t produced the numbers need to compete
successfully here. PORTHCAWL (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) has yet to show she has what
it takes to win against this company. DOMINIQUES DARLING (Deputy Minister) is up
against it in this group, especially considering that she’d have to overcome a far outside
post.