AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| SUNSET H.
(G3), 9TH-HOL, $100,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/2MT, 5:05 P.M. PDT, 7-18 |
|
| 1 |
GREAT SIEGE (IRE), 5, h, by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)Tosca’s Impulse (Ire), by Indian Ridge O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Stonestreet Mares LLC (Ire) |
| 2 |
OIL MAN (IRE), 4, c, by PyrusSo Precious, by Batshoof (Ire) O-Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC & Talla; B-Diana Webley (Ire) |
| 3 |
DYNAMIC RANGE, 4, c, by DynaformerSimone’s Show, by Theatrical (Ire) O-Indizguys Stable; B-Mercedes Stables LLC (Ky) |
| 4 |
CHAMP PEGASUS, 4, c, by Fusaichi PegasusSalt Champ (Arg), by Salt Lake O-Diamond A Racing Corp & Vargas; B-Diamond A Racing Corp. & Arturo Vargas (Ky) |
| 5 |
BUENOS DIAS (IRE), 5, h, by Peintre CelebreBuenos Aires, by Rainbow Quest O-Charles J. Cella; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (Ire) |
| 6 |
UNUSUAL SUSPECT, 6, h, by Unusual HeatPenpont (NZ), by Crested Wave O-Barry or David or Dyan Abrams; B-David Abrams (Ca) |
| 7 |
MARLANG, 5, h, by LangfuhrMarienburg, by Conquistador Cielo O-Gustav Schickedanz; B-Schickedanz Gustav (On) |
A well-matched field of seven turf runners has been entered to go 1 1/2 miles
at Hollywood Park on Sunday in the $100,000 Sunset H. (G3), and we’re tabbing
BUENOS DIAS (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) to score his first graded victory. The bay
five-year-old just won an allowance/optional claimer over course and trip,
posting a 100 BRIS Speed rating in the process, and appears the type who could
offer up a square price. Trained by Ron McAnally, he ran fourth in last year’s
American H. (G2) but will be facing nowhere near that sort of talent in this
one. Brice Blanc has the return call on Buenos Dias.
DYNAMIC RANGE (Dynaformer) was just claimed out of an optional claiming test
going 12 furlongs on Hollywood’s turf and will be making his first start in this
spot for new conditioner Mike Mitchell. That trainer sends out 30 percent
winners after the claim, and Dynamic Range has the back talent to take this one.
The bay gelding ran fourth in the San Marcos S. (G2) in his four-year-old bow,
and owns a win at the 1 1/2-mile distance from last season. He’s been working
well at Hollywood and will get a jock switch to Rafael Bejarano.
UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat) hasn’t won since taking the 12-furlong Cougar
II H. at Del Mar last August, but the Barry Abrams runner can put in a good
effort on occasion. He finished second in the San Luis Obispo H. (G2) earlier this year, and
just missed by a half-length when filling that same spot in the San Juan
Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) in April. The dark bay six-year-old has been
facing some top-notch rivals and could find the step down in class here just
what he needs to return to the winner’s circle. Corey Nakatani, newly returned
to the West Coast, picks up the mount.
MARLANG (Langfuhr) ranks first in BRIS Prime Power (153.1) for this field,
but the bay may not be able to sustain his speed all the way to the wire. The
front-running five-year-old will be making just his second start for Neil
Drysdale in this one, having previously been trained by Deborah England. He
didn’t show that much for his new barn last out when weakening to fifth against
allowance rivals going a mile, and his past attempts at 12 furlongs have been
hit-or-miss. However, against this field his best may be just enough to let
him last all the way to the wire. Joel Rosario will be in the saddle.
CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) is a lightly raced four-year-old making his
stakes bow in this spot. The Richard Mandella trainee has won his past two,
including a 1 1/4-mile allowance/optional claiming affair over Hollywood’s turf,
and has found a good place to try black-type competition for the first time. He
could continue his winning ways here under Joe Talamo. GREAT SIEGE (Ire) (Rock
of Gibraltar [Ire]) is a decent runner but has yet to race beyond 1 1/8 miles.
The bay gelding often seems to pick up a check, though, so consider for the
exotics at a price.
OIL MAN (Ire) (Pyrus) hasn’t moved forward since he
captured the Cinema H. (G3) in 2009. He’s finished well back in his two starts
since his return, and we just can’t envision him threatening, even against
these.