AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| SHAM S.
(G3), 9TH-SA, $200,000, 3YO, 1 1/8M, 4:38 P.M. PST, 2-28 |
|
| 1 |
HI FLYIN INDY, 3, c, by A.P. IndyGo For It Lady, by Mr. Prospector O-Darley Stable; B-Dumar Horses, LLC (Ky) |
| 2 |
SMART BID, 3, c, by Smart StrikeRecording, by Danzig O-Augustin Stable; B-Strawbridge George Jr. (Pa) |
| 3 |
TIZ TRUE, 3, c, by TiznowAmelia, by Dixieland Band O-Tarabilla Farms Inc; B-Alexander Groves Matz LLC (Ky) |
| 4 |
LIFELINE, 3, c, by PulpitField of Vision, by Deputy Minister O-Myung Kwon Cho; B-Pam & Martin Wygod (Ky) |
| 5 |
THE PAMPLEMOUSSE, 3, c, by KafwainComfort Zone, by Rubiano O-Bienstock & Winner Stb Solis II Strauss; B-Clarkland Farm (Ky) |
| 6 |
BALFOUR PARK, 3, c, by MutakddimAnd Guess What, by Kris S. O-Moore Six-S Racing Stable & Valenti; B-Abrahams Keith (Ky) |
| 7 |
MR. HOT STUFF, 3, c, by TiznowSweet Damsel, by Turkoman O-WinStar Farms LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (Ky) |
| 8 |
BOURBON BAY, 3, c, by Sligo Bay (Ire)Coral Necklace, by Conquistador Cielo O-David & Jill Heerensperger; B-Adena Springs (Ky) |
| 9 |
VENTANA, 3, c, by ToccetFull Figure, by Polish Numbers O-Pegram or Watson or Weitman; B-Joe Mulholland Sr, Joe Mulholland Jr, John Mulholland (Ky) |
| 10 |
MARK S THE COOLER, 3, G, by JoharFelucca, by Diesis (GB) O-J Paul Reddam; B-Dr. John A. Chandler (Ky) |
| 11 |
UNBRIDLED ROMAN, 3, c, by Roman DancerUnravel, by Unbridled O-Lorraine & Rod Rodriguez; B-Rod & Lorraine Rodriguez (Ca) |
| 12 |
TAKE THE POINTS, 3, c, by Even the ScoreGinger Ginger, by Fred Astaire O-Starlight Partners; B-Phoenix Farm (Ky) |
Smart San Rafael S. (G3) victor THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Kafwain) will lead a field
of 12 postward in the $200,000 Sham S. (G3) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The
Julio Canani trainee has never run a bad one in his four-race career, but he has
really improved with distance, as evidenced by his two wins in succession over
solid fields. The gray has good early speed and rates a class edge over this
group, so we must give the likely short-priced favorite top billing in here.
Alex Solis has the return call on the Kentucky-bred.
East Coast shipper TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) looked very good in
easily beating an allowance field at Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher and looks
like the most logical upsetter in this one. The gray has
improved his BRIS Speed numbers in each of his four outings and should love the
added ground in his first two-turn attempt, and Garrett Gomez picking up the mount is
surely positive. If the colt handles the Pro-Ride surface in his synthetic debut, he will be formidable.
BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) has not raced since finishing a dead-heat third in the deep
Generous S. (G3) for Neil Drysdale, and this seems like a logical spot for the
gelding to kick off his sophomore campaign. Second in the Cradle S. on the lawn
last season, the bay ranks a solid third in Prime Power (131.3) and has trained
well in preparation for this. If he handles the synthetic, we view him as a
top-three threat under Joel Rosario.
SMART BID (Smart Strike) has won two in succession for Graham Motion, the
last coming on the sod, and we would not be surprised in the least if the dark
bay made a challenging run late under Rafael Bejarano. The Keystone State-bred
hails from a solid family of turf performers and can surely handle the nine
furlongs in this one, so it’s just a matter of if he’s good enough to test
these. We think he’s a must-use in the gimmicks.
UNBRIDLED ROMAN (Roman Dancer) exits a good second versus a useful allowance
group last out for Chris Paasch, and we think that the California-bred could get
a piece of this at big odds. A debut winner going short, the dark bay ran a
deceptively good seventh in the California Breeders’ Championship S. in his
freshman finale, and just missed in a fine effort most recently. Mike Smith has
the call atop the intriguing colt.
MARK S THE COOLER (Johar) was a visually impressive turf maiden winner two
back for Doug O’Neill and exits an even fifth in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2)
over this oval. The steady gelding is far from brilliant, but he’s displayed a
turn of foot in the past and he should appreciate the added ground in this one.
If any of the top four that beat him last out would have shown up in here, they
would have vied for favoritism, so this one makes sense at a square price.
BALFOUR PARK (Mutakddim) was claimed for $100,000 last out by Craig Lewis, so
his connections are hoping for a quick return on their dollar in this test. The
bay colt has shown good late acceleration in his last pair and will add blinkers
for this endeavor, but it’s still hard to endorse the improving sort against
these at this juncture. Brice Blanc will be in the irons.
MR. HOT STUFF (Tiznow), a full brother to multiple Grade 1 hero Colonel John, has the lineage to be a force in this field and comes
off a career-best effort last out for Eoin Harty. The dark bay is surely
improving at the right time, but he may be a tad overbet in his first try versus
winners and we’re not sold on him just yet.
VENTANA (Toccet) will make his seventh consecutive stakes try in here for Bob
Baffert, but we have seen nothing from him that would pique our interest against
this cast. HI FLYIN INDY (A.P. Indy) is bred to be a big factor in races like these, but
we haven’t been all that impressed to date.
TIZ TRUE (Tiznow) looked the part in a winning maiden voyage at Aqueduct in
November, which prompted a shift to trainer David Hofmans out here, but the bay
has yet to move up in two tries on the left coast. We consider the Kentucky-bred
an outsider under Aaron Gryder.
LIFELINE (Pulpit) took seven tries to break his maiden and will likely find
this field a bit over his head in his first try versus winners.