Tuzla

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The $100,000 Tuzla H. (G3) at Santa Anita on Saturday appears to be a race
loaded with early speed, so we’re going to look for a deep closer in hopes of
upsetting this field.

PRIVATE BANKING (Fr) (Anabaa) doesn’t win too often but the mare always has a
late run, and we envision much of her competition backing up to her late in this
one-mile turf affair. Conditioned by Ron McAnally, the bay miss was an impressive
winner of the Autumn Leaves H. up north at Bay Meadows three prior and followed that up with a
pair of average tries against better fields. The bay does not love this surface
or this distance, but the race should set up for her perfectly. Alex Solis will
be in the irons.

AUDACIOUS CHLOE (More Than Ready) had to need her last, when promoted to
third in the
Monrovia H. (G3), and should be much tighter in this one for trainer Todd Pletcher. The multiple stakes-winning filly shows two wins from three starts at
this distance, both in stakes, and has trained forwardly in advance of this
affair. If Garrett Gomez could keep the four-year-old off the expected hot pace
early, she will be a big threat in the lane.

UNSPOKEN WORD (Catienus) was a game runner-up in the La Brea S. (G1) in her
West Coast debut last out and looks like a live contender in this one for Jerry
Hollendorfer. The dark bay filly has been a model of consistency throughout her
career, finishing in the top four in all 10 lifetime efforts, and has held up
well with the rise in class. We’re a bit scared of this one’s tendency to be
into the race from the go against this field, but she’s good enough to get a piece,
if not more, versus this bunch. Rafael Bejarano will guide the four-year-old.

The third-place effort by GOOD MOOD (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) in the Monrovia
last out, where she was later elevated to second via disqualification, looks good on
paper. It wasn’t all that impressive from a visual, or Speed figure, standpoint,
though, and she could be overbet in this one. The Grade 3 heroine will be making her second
start for Eric Guillot and has trained forwardly in preparation for this event,
so her chances at a placing are within reach, but we can’t envision her taking
home the top prize. Mike Baze will guide the filly from the rail.

LIVE LIFE (Fr) (Linamix) is another who likes to be forwardly placed and
could also show up in the gimmicks with a smart navigation. The Leonard Powell
mare is drawn on the far outside, which could aid her in this spot, but we don’t
think that she has the acceleration to out-kick this group. David Flores will be
aboard. I CAN SEE (Flying Chevron) has not fared well against graded company, but
posted a useful second in the Intercontinental H. most recently and could be
used on the bottom of the exotics.

SHERMEEN (Ire) (Desert Style) hung badly in the lane in her latest allowance
race and has never displayed the consistency to be backed in a graded field.
We’ll pass on the five-year-old. I’ve been in the corner of TRICK’S PIC
(Favorite Trick) on too many occasions and will not head in that direction in
this test.

POLITICAL WEB (Petionville) was promising at one point but has had poor form
for the last year. We can’t recommend.