Berkeley

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The $150,000 Berkeley S. (G3) is the Memorial Day feature at Golden Gate
Fields, and we’ll tab BOLD CHIEFTAIN (Chief Seattle) for the win. Trained by
Bill Morey Jr., the six-year-old will enter the 1 1/16-mile event off a
commendable third in the grassy San Francisco Mile (G2) in which he missed by only
three parts of a length, and he’s trained forwardly for his return to an
all-weather track.

Bold Chieftain has dropped six straight starts, but the dark bay is a
eight-time stakes winner and captured four of nine attempts in 2008. He’s won over
an all-weather track previously, and the California-bred appears to be rounding
into top form for this event. The stalker will pick up the services of Frank
Alvarado.

SILENT SOUL (Afternoon Deelites) exits an allowance/optional claiming score
at Santa Anita and is a potential upset candidate in this spot for conditioner
David Hofmans. The five-year-old gelding owns good speed in a field that is
lacking front runners, and we expect to see regular rider Iggy Puglisi hustle
his mount from the start. Silent Soul is an intriguing value play.

SIERRA SUNSET (Bertrando) has the back class to be a factor, but he hasn’t
started in 436 days. The Jeff Bonde trainee also figures to receive plenty of
support with Russell Baze in the saddle. The four-year-old colt was last seen
recording a sharp three-length score in the 2008 Rebel S. (G3) at Oaklawn and is a
listed winner on an all-weather track, but we’ll have to let him beat us for the
win at low odds off the lengthy layoff. Sierra Sunset remains a logical top
three candidate.

UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat) exits a non-threatening fourth in the Mervyn
LeRoy H. (G2) at Hollywood Park, but the Barry Abrams pupil captured the
December 26 Silveyville S. in his last start over local track. The Grade
3-winning California-bred owns some terrific BRIS Late Pace ratings, and he’ll
look to get involved late in this spot. Consider for the gimmicks.

OUR PARTNER (Partner’s Hero) brings solid form into this event for Jerry
Hollendorfer, but the high-priced claimer has some class concerns in this spot. The
five-year-old didn’t fare well when testing graded rivals in the All American S.
(G3) at Golden Gate last September and is winless on the Tapeta, but we wouldn’t
discourage any one from including the in-form gelding on the bottom of the
exotics.

Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again)
shouldn’t be easily dismissed, but the Craig Dollase charge hasn’t won since
2007 and faltered at 3-5 when finishing second in the All American in his lone
appearance on Tapeta. Alex Solis will be in to ride the chestnut and we won’t be
shocked to see the gelding turn things around, but Awesome Gem probably won’t
offer much value and looks vulnerable to us.

UNUSUAL SMOKE (Unusual Heat), who was taken for $12,500 in January, proved to
be a smart claim when capturing the grassy Khaled S. last out, but we won’t
endorse the shipper in this spot. AUTISM AWARENESS (Tannersmyman) may show speed
from his far outside post, but this class hike looks daunting. CAPTAIN ROY (Tale of the Cat) doesn’t look fast enough to challenge.
MEDZENDEEKRON (Unusual Heat) looks more effective sprinting.