Palos Verdes

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of seven sprinters will line up Saturday to contest the 54th running
of the $150,000 Palos Verdes H. (G2) at Santa Anita. JET WEST (Western Fame)
comes off a close third in the sloppy El Conejo H. (G3) earlier this month. The
five-year-old has captured two of three at the Arcadia, California, track and
has shown an affinity for six furlongs, winning six of 10 starts. The bay has
earned triple-digit BRIS Speed figures in his past four outings since being
claimed by trainer Ted West last August, and his rating tactics could put him in the winner’s circle
in a race with a lot of early speed. Corey Nakatani has the call.

ATTILA’S STORM (Forest Wildcat) has set century-topping Speed figures since
being taken under the wing of conditioner Richard Schosberg in September. Since
then, the four-year-old has shown the best form of his career — coming home
fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), annexing the Fall Highweight H. and
running a solid second in the seven-furlong Malibu S. (G1) last out. This one is assured to be
seen gunning for the early lead and will be a threat at his preferred six
furlongs. Pat Valenzuela will ride.

In PAPA TO KINZIE’s (Boston Harbor) last race, a tough Hollywood allowance, the five-year-old mare wheeled
around five steps out of the gate and started heading in the wrong direction,
putting her out of the race. We will ignore this race and put her odd behavior
behind us. A confirmed front runner, the Marty Jones trainee has the highest BRIS E2 ratings in the field, running in the low to mid-100s in her last four
outings. She drilled four furlongs on Monday, going the distance in :47 at Santa
Anita. Papa to Kinzie has the ability to hold on through scorching splits,
defeating an allowance/optional-claiming field by seven lengths after posting an
opening fraction of :20 3/5. She should be kept in mind for the exotics under
Alex Bisono.

The always-dangerous WITH DISTINCTION (Storm Cat) comes into this one on a two-race
win streak. After spending most of 2005 in the East, the five-year-old dark bay narrowly defeated Jet West in the El Conejo
last out. He’s won three of his last four, placing a close second in the
Distorted Humor H. three back, and should be kept in mind for the gimmicks. MAJOR SUCCESS (Mazel Trick) earned a career high 105 Speed rating against
allowance/optional-claiming company last out when defeating Grade 2 victor Hasty
Kris (Kissin Kris). He could hold on for part.

STALKING TIGER (Twin Spires) has certainly improved since Gerard Piccioni
took over training duties last year, but the competition might be a little too
stiff for the five-year-old gelding here. GRAY BLACK N WHITE (Quiet American)
fares best when going for the early lead, but his best distance appears to be seven furlongs or longer.