San Gabriel

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of nine will travel nine furlongs on the Santa Anita lawn
in Sunday’s $150,000 San Gabriel H. (G2). Because there is not much separating this
group, we’re compelled to look for a price, and we’ve landed on the Ben
Cecil-trained FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru) to upset this field. We’re going in this
direction primarily because we suspect this one may take the early lead, in a
field completely void of early foot. The four-year-old bay has run some good
races since coming to the United States in the summer, toppling a solid one in
an allowance tilt and putting in respectable efforts in the Eddie Read H. (G1),
Oak Tree Mile (G2) and, most recently, the Citation H. (G1). We’re hopeful that
Victor Espinoza sends this one on the stretch-out, and if he secures a good
position early, he can be stubborn in the lane.

BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) seems to be in a positive form cycle since
transferring to John Sadler two starts back, including a fine third most
recently in the Citation when rallying into a slow pace. The
six-year-old gelding has never won here but sports a trio of third-place
showings from four tries. He’s also winless at this trip, but his best may
be the best of any in this cast. Mike Smith will break from the outside on the
bay.

We once thought MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) was on the cusp of great things
in California, but the Darrell Vienna trainee is winless since the summer of
2007 and has proven us wrong. The chestnut gelding has amassed some fine placings along the way, finishing second in the Hollywood Derby (G1) last
campaign, and outran his odds when an even fifth in the Citation last out, but
he still has a ways to go to be considered among the best on the West Coast.
The rail draw and extra ground should aid Medici Code, who should vie for a
placing with his best.

PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) has hung on the money one too many times for
us, and while the bay will surely be in the mix in the stretch, we have no plans
on placing win money on the frustrating five-year-old. Under Garrett Gomez, we
consider this one a must-use in the vertical exotics.

OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique), conditioned by the hot Neil Drysdale, was a huge
second in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) in his most recent showing and will surely
take a lot of money on this occasion. The consistent five-year-old has won or
placed in four of five lifetime tries over this oval, but was last seen in the
winner’s circle in February of 2007, and we’d prefer to keep him on the bottom of
our gimmicks at a likely overbet number.

PORFIDO (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]) was a three-length allowance victor in his
yearly debut over this sod, but the Frankel charge has yet to win since. The
six-year-old should also be forwardly placed and may move up some with the
cutback in distance, but he will likely settle for a minor award for the fifth
consecutive time. David Flores has the assignment.

SWIFT WINDS (King of the Hunt) has reeled off three straight wins versus
lesser for trainer Victor Garcia, including a nice win in the California Cup
Mile H. against a useful bunch most recently, so we would not totally dismiss
the gelding at big odds. He seems like a stretch to win this, but we would not
be surprised to see him crash the exotics party with a perfect trip.

Allowance types SILENT SOUL (Afternoon Deelites)
and SARTORIAL (Charismatic) would be thrilled with a top-three placing.