John C. Mabee

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 10 turf distaffers has been entered for Sunday’s
$350,000 John C. Mabee S. (G1) at Del Mar, and the one to beat is TUSCAN EVENING
(Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]). The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has captured her last
three, including the Royal Heroine Mile S. (G2), but we’re going to take a shot
against the likely favorite and go with MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]) to come
out on top in this nine-furlong test.

Conditioned by Paddy Gallagher, Magical Fantasy is exiting a pair of wins
herself, taking the 1 1/4-mile Santa Barbara H. (G2) in mid-April, where she
earned a career-best 101 BRIS Speed rating. She then added the Gamely S. (G1)
going 1 1/8 miles to her resume last out on May 30, and the chestnut miss hasn’t
been idle in the interim, recording some nice bullet works to stay sharp. The
four-year-old is more than capable of handling this level of competition, and
could make it three in a row under jockey Alex Solis.

PATRICIA’S GEM (Mineshaft) was entered in last Sunday’s Clement L. Hirsch S.
(G1) against champion Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]), but trainer Richard Mandella
decided to scratch his charge in favor of this one. That move could pay off with
a win for the bay lass, who will be making only her second stakes try here.
Patricia’s Gem broke her maiden in April, then proceeded to graduate through her
allowance conditions. She led nearly every step of the way in the Royal Heroine
Mile last out, just missing by a hard-fought nose on the wire, and will be out
to avenge that loss while stretching out an extra eighth of a mile. Victor
Espinoza has the return call on the four-year-old.

LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) filled the role of pacesetter in last week’s
Clement L. Hirsch, slowing the race down and sticking around on the wire to
finish third by just three parts of a length behind Zenyatta. Barry Abrams
brings the four-year-old back off the week break, and the bay filly could
surprise if she gets away with another easy lead. That’s not likely to happen
with the likes of Patricia’s Gem and Tuscan Evening, but we’ll still give Lethal
Heat a shot in the exotics with Zenyatta’s regular rider, Mike Smith, taking the
mount.

Tuscan Evening will be tough to deny in here, but a speed duel between her
and Patricia’s Gem is not out of the question. If that happens, the filly could
take herself right out of the race, something we’re willing to take a shot at
considering her probable low odds at post time. Joel Rosario, last aboard for an
allowance score at Hollywood in May, returns to the irons.

CHARMING LEGACY (Danehill) could pick up the pieces if a speed duel erupts on
the front end. The Ron McAnally charge just missed by a head in the Beverly
Hills H. (G2) last out, earning a field best 104 BRIS Speed figure for her
effort, and a repeat of that performance will see her in the mix at the wire.
Joe Talamo aboard only helps her chances.

Dual Group 3 winner VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) finished second by a neck
in the Gamely two back and is a determined rival who usually picks up a check,
but we just can’t see the four-year-old taking her first U.S. win in this spot.
GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy) was third in the Royal Heroine and captured the
Las Cienegas H. (G3) earlier in the season. The bay mare might need a little
less ground than what this one offers to challenge, though.

BRIECAT (Adcat), also scratched out of last week’s Clement L. Hirsch, appears
to get over the California synthetic tracks better than she does the turf. We’ll
let her beat us. The late-running BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) might not be
able to make up enough ground to factor here. MEYDAN PRINCESS (Ire) (Choisir)
has already been beaten by others in here before. We can’t recommend.